As mentioned here previously, import guard Ayinde Ubaka has parted ways with the Melbourne Tigers, putting the squad in a tough situation after already losing point guard Patty Mills earlier in the season.
I’ve written a piece on NBL.com.au which has gone live today, asking where the Tigers head next in this scenario. And today we have some indication of that direction, with the signing of Shane McDonald to a short-term contract to help out at the point. McDonald previously played for the Singapore Slingers and briefly for the Perth Wildcats.
Head coach Trevor Gleeson got on the air with SEN Radio’s Andy Maher and Andrew Gaze to talk about the situation. He was diplomatic in many respects, as you would imagine, but we could glean the following from what he had to say:
- The decision to sack Ubaka was McPeake’s and happened in the locker room after the game, as previously recounted by Ubaka and the press.
- Gleeson indicated that he was happy with the work that Ubaka had done for the club and that he had performed to the best of his ability.
- Gleeson made the point that the decision had been forced upon them and that the team just had to move on and do the best with what they had.
- There is a replacement import in the final stages of negotiations who has won a couple of championships in China. They hope to have him in Australia by the weekend. The player is a friend of former NBL player, Donta Smith. UPDATE: see below, the import is Myron Allen.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hZ31vc-dY20
UPDATE: The new import has been announced as 6’0″ Myron Allen, formerly of the NBA D-League. See video highlights:
Myron Allen: D-League profile.
Here is an interview with Allen about his time in China:
