UCAM launches itself in front of the two pivots already separated from Gran Canaria to provide that key position of many centimeters
This wouldn’t be the quietest summer for a UCAM with up to eight new pieces to add to its squad and, as Alejandro Gómez warned, “we have to wait for moves.” A sequence of events where you have to be on your guard to find the right moment to get moving and take everything into the market and that, because of the way the CEO had structured in his head, it couldn’t get any better.
It has yet to be completed, but UCAM is in the desired position. This week he announced Ryan Luther for the ‘4’, tomorrow (if not today) David Jelínek will be official and the green shoots that were there for Artem Pustovyi’s option not only intensify, but the optimism for his signing is accompanied by another plus. Same position and team too. Meet Ilimane Diop (Dakar, 1995), a former Spanish international (he arrived in Vitoria at the age of 16) and one of the most seductive spots on the market for mid-sized clubs after his inexplicable passage of a season of exile on the Grand Canaria, where he had arrived after his first departure from Baskonia, a club where he played for Sito Alonso and where he became captain.
UCAM’s interest in Diop was revealed yesterday by the website specializing in the transfer market ‘Encestando’, a rumor that has been simmering in recent weeks, especially when the UCAM panorama for its theoretical starting center has been clarified, which, except surprise, will be Artem Pustovyi . Both he and Diop (like Jelínek a little over a week ago) had to resolve the contractual situation with their club, in both cases Gran Canaria, with whom they met for another season. And yesterday, the island club made its departure official.
The Ukrainian’s departure is more important than the simple cut. And it is that Gran Canaria was clear that he did not want to spend the 650,000 euros that he had signed for the player for his second season, but not so much to waive his services. Not once did Jaka Lakovic, the new coach, show his interest in making Pustovyi one of his reference players. The yellow club then tried to hire the player for a lower grade, but he was already determined to leave Las Palmas and leave behind a chaotic season. Of the many options, the one at UCAM is his favorite. The club has built a reputation in recent years for putting players at ease and that is what Pustovyi, who is reuniting with his good friend Nemanja Radovic, needs. Minutes and love.
With Jelínek tied, there are still two places left for UCAM. One will be the third baseman, who has already tied up Alejandro Gómez, and the other is close to Diop. Standing at 2.11 meters high, but with a wingspan of up to 2.41, UCAM is very well placed to take on this player who has lowered his cache a lot after going through the back door of his first club away from his home, the Baskonia, had left.
In Gran Canaria no match has been played for more than 20 minutes and there have been many sporadic appearances or even total sidelines. But Sito knows Diop’s potential. The 2016-17 season was under his command at Baskonia, in which the tall player spent more minutes on the pitch than in any other season. In recent years he has developed a reliable outside shot, especially from forward positions, and is one of the safest big men in the Endesa League against free kicks, having a 78% effectiveness rate throughout his career.
Source: La Verdad
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