GER - Ludwigsburg bring back Brazilian star Nascimento

BERLIN (BBL) - Last season’s BBL surprise package EnBW Ludwigsburg have re-signed Michel Ferreira do Nascimento.

Nascimento, who was the first Brazilian to play in the BBL, averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds last season for Ludwigsburg.

The 28-year-old center stepped up his game in the play-offs with averages of 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds - including a 33-point, 12-rebound showing in the semi-finals against eventual champions Bamberg.

"Michel is an unbelievable fighter. He does not fear anybody or anything. He is ready to give everything for his team. That helped us enormously last season and he will give us plenty of satisfaction next season," said Ludwigsburg coach Silvano Poropat.

Deutsche Bank Skyliners continued their push to return to the top of the BBL by signing Derrick Allen, the league's top scorer from 2006-07, from Bayer Giants Leverkusen.

"We know Derrick Allen and his character very well. He plays with a lot of heart and energy and gives everything for his team," said Murat Didin, coach of the ULEB Cup Skyliners side.

"I am sure he can help us a lot at the power forward position as we look to achieve our goals."

After losing Allen, Leverkusen announced they had re-signed 31-year-old veteran center Eric Taylor, who scored 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season.

"Because of his experience, Eric is a very important player for our team. He can lead our young players; does not make mistakes on the court; and brings calm to our game," Leverkusen coach Achim Kuczmann said.

Among other moves in the league, the 2005-06 BBL rebounding leader Bingo Merriex is returning to Germany and his former team Walter Tigers Tubingen after playing last season for Belgian ULEB Cup side Dexia Mons-Hainaut, and EWE Baskets Oldenburg agreed to a two-year contract with Croatian Jasmin Perkovic from AEK Athens.

Also, guard Jonathan Levy is moving from ratiopharm Ulm to New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig; playmaker Brian Brown signed a two-year deal with Eisbaren Bremerhaven from France side Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket as the replacement for Brian Jones, and Giessen 46ers acquired rookie shooting guard Michael Umeh from University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), who reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season.

David Hein
FIBA