The Preliminary round of the 22nd FIBA Asia Club Championship is in the books and the teams took today off to get ready for the beginning of the single-elimination part of the tournament. There are teams from most of the Middle Eastern nations; unfortunately, there is no representative team from China, Korea, or Japan.
The teams are all allowed two import players, and I thought people may be interested in knowing who is over here playing in this tournament. There are definitely some familiar names . . . if you are a basketball junkie.
Stats, schedule, and live box score are available at http://manila2011.fibaasia.net/
NBA Veterans
Samaki Walker – The 9th overall pick in the 1996 draft by the Dallas Mavericks is probably the biggest name player in the tournament. Walker won a championship with the Lakers back in the day, but is now making a name for himself in the Middle East.
Loren Woods – Remember when he was the “next Tim Duncan” at Wake Forest. Well, after transferring to Arizona and various stints in the NBA and the D-League, Woods is now a star player in Lebanon.
Cheikh Samb – A 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft, Samb spent time with four NBA teams and two D-League teams over the course of two seasons. He has been playing in Iran since Novemember, choosing this team over staying with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Samb has played well in the prelims averaging around 15 points and 9 boards per contest.
D-League Veterans
C.J. Giles – Another familiar name from Kansas, Oregon State, and the D-League, Giles is also a familiar face in Asia after a failed stint with Smart Gilas.
Marcus Douthit – The former Providence star and D-Leaguer is now the big man on the Smart Gilas squad. You have to love the Filipino team trying out big guys to determine who they would make a Filipino citizen. I love how they cut right the b.s. of citizenship.
Ryan Forehan-Kelly – A familiar face from UC Berkeley and the D-League, Forehan-Kelly was playing in the JBL this season before the earthquake averaging 15 and 5.
Christopher Ayer – Another player from Japan this season, Ayer was a late add to the tournament replacing the injured Nakiea Miller.
Michael Cuffee – He missed the first few games, but looks to be in fine form now. Cuffee played with Utah and Bakersfield in the 2007-2008 season.
Jameel Watkins – G’town center, Fayetteville center, ASU Jordan center . . . Watkins is actually a familiar name in Asia having played a few seasons in China now.
Chudney Gray – Former St. John’s, North Charleston, and Fayetteville point guard, Gray is a D-League vet from back in the day. His website is kind of cool . . . http://www.chudneygray.com/THE_TAKEOVA/Welcome.html
Other Imports
Darren Kelly – Former Texas Longhorn . . .
Chauncey Leslie – Former Iowa Hawkeye who has been playing all over the Middle East since 2007.
Courtney Fields – A high powered scorer out of Iona a while back.
Jamaal Miller – Kind of a mystery guy. He has bounced around all the minor leagues in the States, and is taking his scoring ability overseas now.
Marcus Morrison – A familiar name around Asia. He played for Satria Muda Britama in the ASEAN League last season and then recently was on the Melaka Select team in the LA Lights Challenge.
Christopher Williams – So far the leading scorer in the tournament at 30 a game, Williams is known all over Asia and Europe. Williams played his college ball at UVa. When he left Germany a while back he truly broke a number of hearts.
Familiar Name . . . Different Place
Zaid Abbas – Jordanian baller who suited up for Beijing this past season is playing for ASU of Jordan. Looks tough when he gets the minu
The teams are all allowed two import players, and I thought people may be interested in knowing who is over here playing in this tournament. There are definitely some familiar names . . . if you are a basketball junkie.
Stats, schedule, and live box score are available at http://manila2011.fibaasia.net/
NBA Veterans
Samaki Walker – The 9th overall pick in the 1996 draft by the Dallas Mavericks is probably the biggest name player in the tournament. Walker won a championship with the Lakers back in the day, but is now making a name for himself in the Middle East.
Loren Woods – Remember when he was the “next Tim Duncan” at Wake Forest. Well, after transferring to Arizona and various stints in the NBA and the D-League, Woods is now a star player in Lebanon.
Cheikh Samb – A 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft, Samb spent time with four NBA teams and two D-League teams over the course of two seasons. He has been playing in Iran since Novemember, choosing this team over staying with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Samb has played well in the prelims averaging around 15 points and 9 boards per contest.
D-League Veterans
C.J. Giles – Another familiar name from Kansas, Oregon State, and the D-League, Giles is also a familiar face in Asia after a failed stint with Smart Gilas.
Marcus Douthit – The former Providence star and D-Leaguer is now the big man on the Smart Gilas squad. You have to love the Filipino team trying out big guys to determine who they would make a Filipino citizen. I love how they cut right the b.s. of citizenship.
Ryan Forehan-Kelly – A familiar face from UC Berkeley and the D-League, Forehan-Kelly was playing in the JBL this season before the earthquake averaging 15 and 5.
Christopher Ayer – Another player from Japan this season, Ayer was a late add to the tournament replacing the injured Nakiea Miller.
Michael Cuffee – He missed the first few games, but looks to be in fine form now. Cuffee played with Utah and Bakersfield in the 2007-2008 season.
Jameel Watkins – G’town center, Fayetteville center, ASU Jordan center . . . Watkins is actually a familiar name in Asia having played a few seasons in China now.
Chudney Gray – Former St. John’s, North Charleston, and Fayetteville point guard, Gray is a D-League vet from back in the day. His website is kind of cool . . . http://www.chudneygray.com/THE_TAKEOVA/Welcome.html
Other Imports
Darren Kelly – Former Texas Longhorn . . .
Chauncey Leslie – Former Iowa Hawkeye who has been playing all over the Middle East since 2007.
Courtney Fields – A high powered scorer out of Iona a while back.
Jamaal Miller – Kind of a mystery guy. He has bounced around all the minor leagues in the States, and is taking his scoring ability overseas now.
Marcus Morrison – A familiar name around Asia. He played for Satria Muda Britama in the ASEAN League last season and then recently was on the Melaka Select team in the LA Lights Challenge.
Christopher Williams – So far the leading scorer in the tournament at 30 a game, Williams is known all over Asia and Europe. Williams played his college ball at UVa. When he left Germany a while back he truly broke a number of hearts.
Familiar Name . . . Different Place
Zaid Abbas – Jordanian baller who suited up for Beijing this past season is playing for ASU of Jordan. Looks tough when he gets the minu
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