Defending Champions, Manchester Giants completed this year's playing roster with
the signing of Wayman Strickland Jnr.
The 30-year-old veteran shooting guard
Strickland, who graduated from the University of San Diego in 1992, comes to the Giants
after a successful spell with the NBA Ambassadors of the Asian Basketball Association
League earlier this year. The Ambassadors won the Championship after a play-off series win
against the Chinese national team.
Coach Andre Alleyne welcomes Strickland
to Manchester, confident that his experience in the backcourt will significantly
strengthen his team's chances of competing for domestic honours this season.
"We have a great blend of youth and
experience in this team," he said. "The addition of Wayman, who has consistently
produced at the highest levels of competition all over the world, will make Manchester a
team to be reckoned with."
Strickland, who has also played in China,
New Zealand, Indonesia and Ukraine, is looking forward to playing in the UK.
"I've been in tough with the
organisation during the last ten days and kept an eye on results and I guess we've been
unlucky with the injuries, but I'm sure I can contribute to getting the season back on
track," said Strickland.
The Giants are hoping to obtain clearance
from the USA so that Strickland can play in Saturday's fixture against Milton Keynes
Lions, to ease the current injury crisis. They will also give late fitness tests to Brian
Earl and Julius Joseph before the game.
Giants' General Manager, Nick Montgomery,
added: "We are reasonably confident that Julius will pull through. However, Brian has
not responded well to treatment and we are praying that his shoulder problem will ease
over the next twenty-four hours."
The Giants tip-off at 7.30pm on Saturday
21st at the MEN arena.
