Star guards Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi were reunited this season and are cherishing the opportunity to once again don the same jersey, this time for the Central Division-leading Niigata Albirex BB.
They were brought back together when Kashiwagi signed with the Hokuriku team before the 2018-19 season. The two had previously played together for the Hitachi Sunrockers (now known as the B. League's Sunrockers Shibuya), until Kashiwagi left for the Aisin SeaHorses (presently the SeaHorses Mikawa) after the 2005-06 campaign.
Both represented Japan at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, which has since been rebranded as the FIBA World Cup.