Atsür flips layups, Evtimov flips chips in new jobs

Engin Atsür’s new team, Italy’s Benetton Treviso, played their first pre-season games this weekend in the CBA(China)-Euroleague Challenge 2007 held in Kunshan, China. Treviso lost to China by a narrow three points (75-78) in their first game and to the Sydney Kings in their second game (75-82). You’ll read in the reports that Atsür made an impact, including a nice driving play at the very end of the first quarter of the Sydney game, but they couldn’t pull it out. It looks like Engin is back to a combo guard spot and utilizing his trademark sticky defense. And now he gets to push guys all over the floor, European style.

Stats and other stuff on the challenge here, and you can watch both of Treviso’s matches for free on Euroleague.net TV – click "demand" if it doesn’t load by default and then "full games" or "highlights." Pay attention though, or the announcer will put you to sleep. While I was watching, I was wondering how Engin felt playing in what looked like a high school gym? We’ll miss you in the big bad RBC Center.

While Engin was busy getting set for China, Ilian Evtimov was sweating it out in Frankfurt, Germany for his new team, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Apparently the team recently underwent a few pre-season team-building outings which included hanging out playing poker and paddling downstream on a river tour. Ah, the rough life . . . Evtimov and Atsür are now playing in the same league (ULEB), but in different divisions, so they won’t play against one another unless both teams make it to the playoffs.

tags: engin atsur, benetton treviso, ilian evtimov, deustche bank skyliners, uleb, euroleague, basketball