By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Adding to the frenzy of moves, Pinar Karsiyaka signed Angel Delgado to a one-year contract and Thomas Akyazili to a three-year contract, the team announced Thursday.
Delgado, 27, spent the last season at Surne Bilbao producing 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in Spain’s Liga Endesa. The Seton Hall product recorded a couple of appearances in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers before moving to the Old Continent. From there, the Dominican center joined Hapoel U-NET Holon and Movistar Estudiantes before getting to Bilbao.
Akyazili, 29, has been competing in Turkey’s BSL for the last three seasons. After a couple of campaigns at Bahcesehir Koleji, he averaged 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for Yukatel Merkezefendi last season. The young point guard carries an additional professional experience of five years as a member of Telenet Giants Antwerp and played college basketball at Colorado in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Prior to the latest additions, Karsiyaka landed Errick McCollum, Kenan Sipahi returned after six years for a second stint, and Berkan Durmaz inked a contract extension. The team based in Izmir is among the main candidates to play in the 2022-23 edition of the Basketball Champions League.
The 2021-22 run in the BCL was ended by Lenovo Tenerife in the Play-In Round. The Turkish side was edged out in the best-of-three series opposite the future champions of the season. In the domestic league, the team coached by Ufuk Sarica landed in the seventh seed of the Playoffs bracket and was eliminated by Anadolu Efes, 2-1, in the Quarterfinals.