By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With the offseason heating up across the Basketball Champions League, Tenerife continued roster adjustments by letting Sasu Salin go on Thursday. The two-time champions opted out of the contract with the Finnish sharpshooter. The 33-year-old guard recorded 74 appearances in the Champions League over the last five years. His stint was highlighted by the BCL championship in 2022.
Moving in from Telekom Baskets Bonn and 15 appearances in the 2023-24 installment of the BCL, Brian Fobbs joined Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari. The explosive American guard meets Justin Bibbins, Miralem Halilovic, Matteo Tambone, Michal Sokolowski, Stefano Trucchetti, Giovanni Veronesi, and Luca Vincini, previously placed on the 2024-25 roster for the team coached by Nenad Markovic.
After winning Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL championship, Rytas jumped into the offseason and penned 30-year-old Martynas Paliukenas for the next season. A Vilnius native, the defensive ace will debut in FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, following eight appearances in the FIBA Europe Cup with CSM CSU Oradea.
A veteran of 40 games played in the Champions League, 33-year-old Drew Crawford joined Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan to add to his tally. Another signing is 33-year-old Amin Stevens. From the 2023-24 roster, 28-year-old Kendale McCullum and 29-year-old Adam Ariel are coming back.
Following Fabian Bleck, Wurzburg Baskets signed Mike Davis and Lukas Wank. Other players on the roster are Julius Bohmer, Owen Klassen, Zac Seljaas, and Max Ugrai.
Elsewhere, Nenad Stefanovic was hired by Igokea m:tel as the new head coach, heading to the next season.
Also, Promitheas added 25-year-old Darius Perry and retained 27-year-old Antonis Koniaris.
Buzas, Kakiouzis, Madzin
The list of 24 teams for the Qualification Rounds includes Uniclub Casino – Juventus. The team based in Utena opened the offseason by promoting Vytautas Buzas to the position of head coach. Adding 27-year-old Laurynas Beliauskas and keeping 32-year-old Zygimantas Skucas started roster moves.
Launching preparations for the next season, Cyprus champion Keravnos reached an agreement with Michalis Kakiouzis on a one-year contract extension. From there to landing Pano Pavlidis off his NCAA career and a senior campaign at Stonehill.
Slovakia champion Levicki Patrioti confirmed Michal Madzin as the returning head coach. Players David Abrham, Boris Bojanovsky, Daniel Chaban, Alex Krajcovic, Patrik Pazicky, and Samuel Solcansky are also coming back.
Finland champion Nokia retained Kahron Ross for another season. Antti Ahonen, Fiifi Aidoo, Max Besselink, Hugo Boman, Niko Mattila, and Aamos Nikula have also been confirmed for the 2024-25 roster.
Switzerland champion Fribourg Olympic re-signed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi product Ross Williams and added 21-year-old Massimiliano Dell’ Acqua.
Estonia champion Kalev/Cramo brought in 20-year-old Gregor Kuuba and kept 21-year-old Hugo Toom.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Rolland Torok reunited with his first team, Oradea, after 13 years.
Also, 28-year-old Luuk van Bree inked a two-year contract with Heroes Den Bosch.