Alba Berlin announces Marko Banic and Alex Renfroe
The two signings are official
With less than a month until Turkish Airlines Euroleague opening day, Alba Berlin moved to reenforce both its frontcourt and backcourt by signing veteran big man Marko Banic and shooting guard Alex Renfroe. Banic (2.04 meters, 29 years old) signed for the entire season, the club announced, while Renfroe (1.91 meters, 28 years old) arrives on a four-month contract in the wake of an injury to off-season addition Jonathan Tabu.
Banic played last season with Estudiantes, averaging 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1 assist in the Spanish League. In his only previous Turkish Airlines Euroleague season, Banic averaged 13.3 points and 4 rebounds in 20 games during 2011-12 campaign, leading Bilbao to the Euroleague playoffs. He also led Bilbao to back-to-back Eurocup semifinals appearances in 2009 and 2010. Banic was named to the All-Eurocup First Team for both of those seasons and named the 2009-10 Eurocup MVP. Banic, who is a product of the KK Zadar youth system and played there until 2005 when he moved to Bilbao. He signed with Unics Kazan in the summer of 2012, but Banic missed the entire 2012-13 season because of a knee injury. He returned to the floor last season with Estudiantes.
Renfro will make his Euroleague debut with Alba after having split last season between Enisey Krasnoyarsk of Russia, where he averaged 13.8 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games, and Laboral Kutxa Vitoria of Spain, where he played sparingly in 4 games. He split the previous season, as well, with 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Valladolid of Spain for 22 games, then 7.1 points, 4 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 23 appearances for Brose Baskets in the German League. Before that, he made stops at Brindisi in Italy, KK Zagreb in Croatia and VEF Riga in Latvia.
Banic played last season with Estudiantes, averaging 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1 assist in the Spanish League. In his only previous Turkish Airlines Euroleague season, Banic averaged 13.3 points and 4 rebounds in 20 games during 2011-12 campaign, leading Bilbao to the Euroleague playoffs. He also led Bilbao to back-to-back Eurocup semifinals appearances in 2009 and 2010. Banic was named to the All-Eurocup First Team for both of those seasons and named the 2009-10 Eurocup MVP. Banic, who is a product of the KK Zadar youth system and played there until 2005 when he moved to Bilbao. He signed with Unics Kazan in the summer of 2012, but Banic missed the entire 2012-13 season because of a knee injury. He returned to the floor last season with Estudiantes.
Renfro will make his Euroleague debut with Alba after having split last season between Enisey Krasnoyarsk of Russia, where he averaged 13.8 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games, and Laboral Kutxa Vitoria of Spain, where he played sparingly in 4 games. He split the previous season, as well, with 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Valladolid of Spain for 22 games, then 7.1 points, 4 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 23 appearances for Brose Baskets in the German League. Before that, he made stops at Brindisi in Italy, KK Zagreb in Croatia and VEF Riga in Latvia.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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