As the lone rabid basketball fan on the 5.0&SF staff, it’s only natural I post this information pertaining to Yokohama’s sponsorship of the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. Though Yokohama would love to see the two teams face each other in the NBA Finals, both will have to tread through stiff competition to get there. The stacked West teams will make it hard for Tim Duncan and crew to return to greatness, and King James’ resurgent Cavaliers, along with the stout Atlanta Hawks will have something to say about Boston’s trip to the finals. Find out more information on the sponsorship after the jump…

The reigning world champion Boston Celtics and former champion San Antonio Spurs: a preview of the 2008-’09 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals? Perhaps, but for now, both clubs are once again part of Yokohama Tire Corporation’s marketing team. According to Dan King, Yokohama vice president of sales, Yokohama is sponsor of the Celtics and Spurs for the second straight season.

“NBA basketball is one of the most popular sports here and around the world,” said King. That’s why it’s a great venue for Yokohama to showcase our world-class lineup of tires, including ADVAN, S.drive, Parada, Geolandar, and AVID. All the tie-ins we’re doing with the Celtics and Spurs should score points with our dealers and their customers in these markets.”

The agreement with the NBA teams will enable Yokohama to execute promotions designed to drive traffic to dealers. Consumers can receive authentic replica team jerseys with the purchase of four Yokohama tires.

Yokohama will have signage and special events at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston and the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The partnership includes spots on teams’ radio networks, presence on the teams’ Website and hospitality events for dealers. In addition, heavy radio and television advertising will support the promotion starting in March.

The basketball sponsorships follow successful partnerships with two NFL teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, plus high-visibility college football teams USC and UCLA.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber *** Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.