Basketball: Blalock re-signs for Eagles

NEWCASTLE EAGLES emerged from a summer of boardroom turmoil to make their first major acquisition for the new season, by re-signing the American playmaker and shooting guard Ralph Blalock.

The Eagles managing director, Paul Blake, led the management buy-out last week from the Newcastle Sporting Club, in the fall-out from Sir John Hall's decision to reduce his involvement in sport.

Blake said: "Blalock first joined the Eagles in 1996 from Towson State University and averaged 20 points per game. After a season away he returned to average 19 points last season and led the Budweiser League free-throw stats at 91 per cent.

Milton Keynes' new coach, Tom Hancock, began rebuilding the Lions roster by re-signing American centre Broderick Bobb. Last season Bobb was in the league top 20 for rebounds and top 10 for blocked shots.

Andre Alleyne, who coached Milton Keynes last season, has been named assistant coach at league runners-up Manchester Giants, whose first game of the season on September 18, is against the champions, Sheffield Sharks.