By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dreamland Gran Canaria welcomed 27-year-old Eric Vila on a two-year contract, heading to the 2025-26 edition of the Basketball Champions League. The Spanish forward, a former NCAA player with UTEP, Northwest Florida State and Texas A&M, will debut in the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe, joining the team based in the Canary Islands in Group H of the Regular Season, opposite SL Benfica, Le Mans, and Spartak Office Shoes.
Another returning player for La Laguna Tenerife is 35-year-old Tim Abromaitis, who penned a two-year contract extension. After an initial stint from 2015 to 2019, he returned to the fellow Canary Islands BCL outfit in 2022. A former champion and veteran of an all-time high 115 appearances starts the next continental assignment in Group D, versus Tofas, Bnei PenLink Herzliya, and Trapani Shark.
Preparing to face Promitheas Vikos Cola, Legia Warszawa, and MLP Academics Heidelberg in Group A, Rytas announced 32-year-old Arturas Gudaitis will continue through the 2025-26 season, since both the team and player declined exit options. After reuniting with the Vilnius outfit in March, the experienced center made his Champions League debut late in the 2024-25 campaign.
In Group F, alongside AEK Betsson, NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz and a Qualification Rounds winner, VEF Riga tabbed 23-year-old Ben Carlson. From playing college basketball with Wisconsin and Utah, he launched his professional career with QSTA United in the 2024-25 installment of the betFirst BNXT League.
In the Qualifiers, Falco Szombathely retained 28-year-old Aleksa Novakovic.
Photo Credit: FIBA