By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The news broke out on Saturday night and by Monday morning they were officially confirmed. Manuchar Markoishvili (photo) left Cantu – with a buy out that is rumored to be 500.000 euros – in order to sign with Eurocup contender Galatasaray.
The Turkish club was aggressively searching for reinforcement after the doping test failure of David Hawkins and the leader of Cantu is the man for the job, having signed a contract until the end of the next season. It was not an easy decision for the Italian club, since Markoishvili will not be replaced easily and this move will make really difficult for the team to continue chasing the Italian championship title.
However, on Monday there was an even bigger loss for a Euroleague contender. Olympiacos‘ guard Vaggelis Mantzaris was injured during Sunday’s road game against PAOK and the team announced that he will be out for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The Reds have to find a replacement and the names of free agents Jeremy Pargo and Chris Quinn are already on the table. If one of those players sign with the Greek team, then Lithuanian guard Martynas Gecevicius will be cut from the Greek league roster and will be used only in Euroleague.