By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Preparing to compete in Group D of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season, Bnei PenLink Herzliya and Trapani Shark confirmed one more player apiece for the next season.
After starting a second spell with the Israeli club late in the 2024-25 journey, 28-year-old Chinanu Onuaku is staying for the 2025-26 season. A former Houston Rocket in the NBA and capped with the United States in the Qualifiers of the FIBA World Cup 2019, he played in three BCL games with Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari in 2022.
Carrying the experience of 24 Champions League appearances, including 11 with Sassari over the last two years and an earlier championship run with Virtus Segafredo Bologna, 29-year-old Alessandro Cappelletti signed a one-year contract with Trapani. The four-team group also features La Laguna Tenerife and Tofas.
Two BCL rookies were placed in Group G, with 32-year-old Ronald March and 28-year-old Demajeo Wiggins penning one-year contracts with Mersin MSK and Karditsa Iaponiki, respectively. Back-to-back defending champion Unicaja and lasting original Filou Oostende are the other teams in the group.
On the way to Group F, AEK Betsson announced a two-year contract extension with 37-year-old Gaios Skordilis. The experienced Greek center is a veteran of 27 BCL appearances, including 11 with the Queen in the 2024-25 season.
Chris Johnson joins Chalon in the Qualifiers
With 67 BCL games and a member of the 2021-22 Star Lineup First Team, 35-year-old Chris Johnson is set for action in the Qualification Rounds with Elan Chalon. The Orlando native inked a one-year contract to return to France after spending the last five years in Israel.
Among the winningest head coaches in the league, with success stemming from jobs with JDA Dijon, Pinar Karsiyaka, Iberostar Tenerife and Gaziantep, 57-year-old Nenad Markovic took over fellow Qualifiers outfit, Bursaspor.
Also, Patrioti Levice picked up 27-year-old Novak Music, Kutaisi 2010 added 30-year-old Javion Ogunyemi, the Bakken Bears secured the services of 23-year-old Duke Deen, and Uniclub Bet-Juventus re-signed 26-year-old Ernestas Sederevicius.
Photo Credit: FIBA