By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Returning to the Basketball Champions League, Promitheas has the looks of a contender, especially after welcoming Jaime Echenique Wednesday.
Echenique, 26, penned a one-year contract to join the team based in Patras. The former member of the Washington Wizards, carrying one game played in the NBA, will be introducing himself to the Champions League. Apart from the new head coach Ilias Papatheodorou, the Colombian center is the fifth new player to the squad, following Chris Coffey, Hunter Hale, Antonis Koniaris, and Deshawn Stephens.
Longtime Badalona player joins Rio Breogan
Moving on from Joventut Badalona, 31-year-old swingman Albert Ventura emerged as the eighth new player for Rio Breogan. Earlier signings stretched to Mouhamet Diouf, Juan Fernandez, Matas Jogela, Anthony Polite, Matej Rudan, Martynas Sajus, and Zan Mark Sisko, while Sergi Garcia, Stefan Momirov, and Toni Nakic will be running it back with Lugo outfit.
UCAM Murcia tabbed 27-year-old Dustin Sleva for the next season. The busy team coached by Sito Alonso previously acquired Simon Birgander, Troy Caupain, Moussa Diagne, Dylan Ennis, Ludvig Hakanson, and Howard Sant-Roos. Also, David Jelinek, Thad McFadden, Nemanja Radovic, and Jordan Sakho penned contract extensions. Georgian Rati Andronikashvili is staying as well.
France’s Le Mans and JDA Dijon wrap up summer signings
Former Minnesota standout Nate Mason inking a one-year contract with Le Mans marked the last offseason addition for the French club. Leopold Delaunay, DeVante’ Jones, Matt Lewis, Selom Mawugbe, Williams Narace, Abdoulaye Ndoye, D’Shawn Schwartz, and Will Yeguete shape the rest of the squad.
The other direct entry to the Regular Season based in France, JDA Dijon picked up Aleksandar Lazic to complete the roster. Dylan Affo Mama, Jacques Alingue, Vitalis Chikoko, Allan Dokossi, Robin Ducote, David Holston, Gregor Hrovat, Cameron Hunt, and Jonathan Rousselle were previously confirmed.
Veteran Michal Nowakowski returns to Szczecin
Six years after departing, 35-year-old Michal Nowakowski reunited with King Wilki Morskie Szczecin and will debut in the BCL. His new side consists of Kacper Borowski, Zac Cuthbertson, Artur Labinowicz, Filip Matczak, Andrzej Mazurczak, Tony Meier, Morris Udeze, and Maciej Zmudzki.
Switching to a Qualifiers bid, Kalev/Cramo returned both 29-year-old Rauno Nurger and 22-year-old Mikk Jurkatamm to Estonia. The newcomers joined Leemet Bockler, Kregor Hermet, Kaspar Kitsing, Oleksandr Kovliar, and Hugo Toom on the roster.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL