Portuguese league 2007/08 - results and news

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Ovarense signed American centre Graham Brown (205cm, 22) from Lusitânia for one year. Brown averaged 12.3 ppg, 9 rpg and 1 spg in the regular season and 17.6 ppg and 8 rpg in the playoffs.

Meanwhile Paulo Cunha extended his contract with Porto until 2010. He's been playing in Porto since 1999 and last season averaged 11 ppg and 5.7 rpg in the regular season and 12.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in the playoffs.

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Ovarense in the ULEB Cup

After the meeting of ULEB in Portorož (Slovenia), it became known that Ovarense will play in the ULEB Cup (the club has to confirm the participation until 12th July).

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Benfica abandons the LCB

Benfica, one of the historical clubs of Portuguese basketball, decided to abandon the league. The decision was made because a doping process against the player António Tavares which Benfica thought it was taking too long and was not respecting the player's rights. Benfica is one of the oldest clubs playing basketball in Portugal and won more titles than any other. The club is thinking of joining Proliga, a sort of second league in Portugal, although nothing's set yet.

[woma]

Meanwhile Paulo Cunha extended his contract with Porto until 2010. He's been playing in Porto since 1999 and last season averaged 11 ppg and 5.7 rpg in the regular season and 12.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in the playoffs.

Surprise, surprise...especially after hearing last year that he would seriously consider moving to better league, he can easily play on higher level than Portuguese League. There's always a spot here and there for versatile forwards like Cunha.

Any news regarding future of Greg Stempin or Ben Reed?

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Any news regarding future of Greg Stempin or Ben Reed?

Nothing's set yet, although it has been rumoured that Stempin has offers from Spain. As for Ben Reed, his contract expired and Ovarense is trying to negociate a new one, but it's not certain that he'll stay.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Joao Gomes, 6-7, SG/SF, 1985, Barriense, Portugal
10 points, 3 rebounds, 2/4 2P, 1/3 3P, 3/6 FT

This was a decent first game for Joao Gomes, although nothing quite to write home about at this point. He made some athletic moves to the basket, showing average ball-handling skills but plenty of aggressiveness to make his presence felt, and also showed nice touch on his jump-shot .His defense was very solid, mostly thanks to his quickness and solid upper body strength, but also due to his excellent activity level. This writer’s first impression from seeing him outside of the film we evaluated was that he’s a solid prospect with good potential, but just an average feel for the game. We’ll see how he bounces back tomorrow.

link to draftexpress article

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Rolando Blackman stated that he has potential, is physically interesting and has good offensive moves. He also added that he should develop his ball handling. Some Blazers scouts got some info about him.

I think he should stay at least one more year in Europe and outside Portugal in a competitive league with a high level. If he's to stay here he should move to a bigger club, perhaps Ovarense, since they'll play in the ULEB Cup. It could be dangerous for him if he moves to the NBA right now, he needs competitiveness and to play with the best. Nowitzki is more of an exception than a rule in this context.

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Chad Ford, ESPN analyst, wrote that he considers João Gomes to be among the five players in Treviso who could play in the NBA (the others are Marco Belinelli, Ali Traoré, Rodrigue Beaubois, Giorgos Printezis and Nikita Shabalkin). He considers that João Gomes improved since the last year's Treviso camp, showing more physical strength, a softer shot and feeling for the game. Still, he thinks he spends too much time outside the 3-point line and that he does not create much shooting situations.
He also states that he is definitely a player with a place in the NBA, having the potential tools to do it. He admits that he might be chosen in the second round in next year's draft.

In the forth and last day of the Treviso camp, João Gomes scored 26 pts (5/5 FG, 4/5 3pt, 4/5 FT) in 26 minutes and added 4 rebounds and 2 steals, being named the MVP of the game.

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João Gomes will take part in training camps this month in the US, namely with the Bucks and the Timberwolves. The Blazers and the Celtics are reportedly interested in him, as well European teams, one of which is Barcelona.

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Signings

Ben Reed agreed on one more year with Ovarense.

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Coach Luís Magalhães, who led Ovarense to two consecutive championships, could be leaving the team as he already expressed the desire to coach abroad. He already told Ovarense to start seeking a new coach as he has been having contacts with four international teams (which he didn't want to specify), thus concentrating now in an international career.

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Spanish coach Manuel Povea, still at the helm of Lusitânia, is rumoured to become the next coach of Ovarense. Luís Magalhães might leave to coach 1º de Agosto, one of the best Angolan teams.

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After all Luís Magalhães will continue as Ovarense coach for one more season, honouring his contract.

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Signings

Porto signed guard João Figueiredo for two seasons. Last season he played for Lusitânia and averaged 11.3 ppg, 5.3 apg, 1.6 rpg and 1.3 spg.

Ovarense re-signed Greg Stempin and Cordell Henry (one more season). Nuno Perdigão and Shawn Jackson left the team.

CAB signed Mário Jorge from Belenenses.

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Signings

Nuno Marçal, whose contract expires by the end of this month, could ink a two-year extension with Porto. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Mascarenhas could leave the team to play in Holland or Spain, although the renewal of his stay at Porto is not ruled out.