Azovmash adds defensive ace Van den Spiegel
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 Azovmash Mariupol has completed an intimidating frontline for the coming season with the signing of two-time Euroleague champion Tomas Van den Spiegel. The veteran center signed a two-year deal with the club. Van den Spiegel (214, 30) arrives from CSKA Moscow, which he joined midway through last season and helped to its second Euroleague crown in three seasons. He began that season with Polish champion Prokom and averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 points and 1 block in 18 games with both teams. He was the Week 4 with one of the greatest performances in Euroleague history – 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting, 13 rebounds and 3 steals for a 50 index – in a 75-87 win at Virtus Bologna. Van den Spiegel was competition's regular season blocked shots leader with 1.7 per game and is tied for 11th on the all-time blocks list with 72. This will be Van den Spiegel's second time playing in the Eurocup. He previously played four games for Virtus Roma in the 2005-06 campaign, averaging 7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1 block. He has also played for Osiris Denderleeuw, BBC Aalst and BC Oostende in his native Belgium and Fortitudo Bologna in Italy.
"I have been told that Mariupol is a good basketball city" Van den Spiegel said after signing. "I know some of the players in Azovmash and I am familar with Uche Nsonwu and Simonas Serapinas. We all got together in this team to play good basketball and get good results."
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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