Midfielder Ono joins Western Sydney Wanderers

Former Japan international Shinji Ono has signed with Western Sydney Wanderers, the Australian club said on its official website on Friday.

The 33-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder will arrive in Australia on Monday and could be ready for the Wanderers' first ever game in the A-League against Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium, the club said.

Ono played for Urawa Reds (1998-2001 and 2006-2007), Dutch club Feyenoord (2001-2005) and Bochum of Germany (2007-2010) before moving to S-Pulse.

Ono has been capped 56 times by his country, including playing at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He has made 14 league appearances for S-Pulse this season but playing opportunities have been recently decreasing.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said he was delighted to have someone of Shinji's talent and experience joining the Wanderers.

"We have been in talks with Shinji and his management for a long time now, we have gone through the process and believe he will add a large amount to our squad across all areas," Popovic said.

"He is an experienced player at all levels and has played on some of the biggest stages in the world, his professionalism at the top level will be good for all to see."

Executive chairman Lyall Gorman said the signing of such a top-class player would be warmly welcomed by the Wanderers Members.

"The signing of Shinji Ono will bring plenty of quality to our team and plenty of excitement to Parramatta Stadium," said Gorman. "This complements our policy of developing Western Sydney products. Shinji's class and professionalism will rub off on all the young players we have."

"The added benefit is the international profile Shinji will bring to the Wanderers and give us another way to connect with fans across western Sydney."

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Veteran star Arnold joins Lakestars

Sharpshooter Wayne Arnold, one of the top all-around performers for the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix during the past three seasons, has joined the Shiga Lakestars. The move became official late Saturday night.

The Tennessee State product averaged 15.0 points per game for the bj-league championship runnerup Phoenix last season. He scored 14.6 ppg for the 2009-10 Hamamatsu squad, which won its first of back-to-back titles under ex-coach Kazuo Nakamura. The next season, Arnold averaged 18.6 ppg and drained 112 of 281 3-pointers. He's one of the best perimeter shooters in league history, and now joins a Shiga club that lost key shooting guard Yu Okada to the Kyoto Hannaryz.

The 193-cm Arnold was the Sixth Man Award winner in 2010-11.

Eight bj-league teams participated in preseason competition on Saturday, including four teams in the Tohoku Cup in Akita.

The Akita Northern Happinets defeated the visiting Sendai 89ers 86-79 on Saturday evening. It was Akita's fifth preseason game but only the first for the 89ers.

The game was tied at 73-73 with four minutes remaining. Fourth-quarter turnovers hurt the 89ers, said Sendai coach Bob Pierce, whose team turned the ball over nine times in the final period (20 overall).

Sendai's Kevin Coble had a game-high 23 points and teammate Sam Coleman scored 22, while Karron Clark had 10. Teammates Sam Willard (seven points, nine rebounds), Takehiko Shimura (six points) and Takuya Komoda (five points) also made solid contributions.

For Akita, Dion Harris poured in 18 points, Jordan DeMercy had 16, Anthony Kent posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and T.J. Cummings scored 16 points; all four players are newcomers to Nakamura's club. Kazuhiro Shoji chipped in with seven points and Makoto Kato scored six.

In the earlier Tohoku Cup game, the Iwate Big Bulls routed the Tokyo Cinq Reves 71-47.

Elsewhere, the Shimane Susanoo Magic defeated the visiting Shiga Lakestars 88-81 and the host Oita HeatDevils cruised past the Rizing Fukuoka 96-69.

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Southpaw Chen joins Orioles

Nagoya — Taiwanese pitcher Chen Wei-yin spurned a multiyear offer from Chunichi to sign a three-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, the Dragons said Tuesday.

Chen will hold a news conference in Nagoya next Tuesday to formally announce his move. The Dragons wished the 26-year-old lefty well after five seasons, during which he averaged a 2.59 ERA and won 36 games.

"It's the reason he came to Japan in the first place, to try to get a shot," Chunichi official Takashi Ide said. "It's great he's realized his dream."

According to the Baltimore Sun, Chen's deal with the Orioles is for three years and between $11 million and $12 million, pending passage of a physical.

This winter, Baltimore signed another southpaw from Japanese baseball in Tsuyoshi Wada, who made the jump from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks for a two-year, $8.15 million deal.

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