By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League saw a high volume of roster activity on Friday as teams added to their squads ahead of the upcoming Regular Season.
Peristeri Betsson bolstered their lineup by inking 26-year-old forward Manos Chatzidakis to a one-year deal. A veteran of 11 BCL games with AEK during the 2023–24 campaign, Chatzidakis links up with teammates Will Carius, Jalen Finch, Giorgos Gkiouzelis, John Ittounas, Grace Ngindu, Ty Nichols, Alexandros Nikolaidis, Dimitris Papageorgiou, Omar Payne, Paul Scruggs, Alexandros Thomakos, and Nikos Tziallas. Under the guidance of head coach Vassilis Xanthopoulos, the Greek club heads into Group D to challenge BMA365 Bamberg Baskets, Openjobmetis Varese, and UCAM Murcia.
Elsewhere in the league, Azerbaijan champions Sabah secured a long-term piece by signing American center Quincy Ballard to a three-year contract. Coming out of a six-year NCAA career with Mississippi State, Wichita State, and Florida State, the 25-year-old seven-footer deepens a summer signing class that already boasts Frankie Fidler, Mindaugas Susinskas, Nick Perkins, and Rashid Abbasov. Together, they will lead the charge in Group A against Nanterre 92, Rytas, and Trabzonspor.
Also, Czech outfit KVIS Pardubice announced the acquisition of 27-year-old guard-forward Nick Stampley. The newcomer joins a settled depth chart featuring Ondrej Bilek, Lubos Kovar, Hugo Lejsek, Adam Lukes, Ryan Moffatt, Ondrej Provaznik, Petr Safarcik, Michael Skoda, Petr Stovicek, Kamil Svrdlik, Jakub Tuma, and Dalibor Vlk. The revamped squad faces a Group E test, where they are scheduled to clash with Juventus, UnaHotels Reggio Emilia, and Unicaja.
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