Rocks and Raiders ring the changes
Yesterday saw a changing of the guard(s) at one end of the country in the BBL, as Jeremy Bell was cut from Plymouth Raiders, to be replaced by veteran Rod Brown, and a big step “forward” for Glasgow Rocks with the signing of Jamie Vanderbeken after Owen McNally’s decision to return home to the USA.
For Plymouth, the decision to cut Bell from their roster was a bitter pill to swallow, but with the ongoing personal and private issues Bell has been dealing with back home in America, and the two week break in their playing schedule, they have gambled on making the cut and replacing Bell with former Leopard and Towers’ Brown to integrate him into the side.
In an email response printed by The Herald in Plymouth, Bell, the 2010-11 BBL MVP of the year, said: “This has been an unfortunate situation that I think could have been handled better. It’s a mutual choice now.
“Before I left Plymouth we had an understanding I would be back, but they had to make a decision and I respect this is business.”
There were signs though that this was not the end of his 2012-13 BBL season however, stating the reason why he left, and his hopes for the remainder of the season: “It was a family issue. It’s behind me now. I can move forward and negotiate with another team and continue my career.”
Since leaving the BBL, 6′ 1″ point guard Brown has played across Europe, in Spain, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and most recently Switzerland for Lugano Tigers.
At the other end of the country, a late announcement last night saw the inclusion of 6′ 10″ Canadian/British forward, Jamie Vanderbeken, join up with Glasgow Rocks.
His arrival is well timed since the departure of Owen McNally, unconnected to the decision to sign Vanderbeken, but is a player that head coach Sterling Davis feels can fill the gap left by Team GB star Kieron Achara some weeks ago: “Vanderbeken is a guy who will give us a little more size and scoring power on the interior. Jamie has a very solid resume having played at a high-level division one program along with great experience from the NBA D-league. He will be able to not only help with the interior play but also be a very big threat from the perimeter which works well in our system.”
Vanderbeken was called up to the GB camp ahead of Eurobasket in 2009, but injury hampered his chances, but now a recent show of form could see him well and truly in the frame for later this year in the 2013 event.
