BRA – Splitter leaves Europe for America after signing with Spurs

SAN ANTONIO (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Tiago Splitter’s good friend and long-time teammate in the ACB, Argentina’s Luis Scola, left Spain for Texas and the NBA in 2007.

Now the 6ft 11in Brazil national team center is doing the same after signing a contract with the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

“This is a very exciting day for the Spurs,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.

“We’re very fortunate to be adding to our program one of the best players not currently playing in the NBA.”

Splitter, 25, was the ACB’s MVP this season.

He led Caja Laboral to a 3-0 sweep of Regal Barcelona in play-off finals.

San Antonio had owned Scola’s draft rights as well but never had enough money to allocate to his salary and ultimate traded him to Houston, a decision that most people in Spurs Nation regret.

Scola played alongside Splitter in Vitoria, Spain.

Splitter is expected to be a big part of the San Antonio rotation but is likely to come off the bench.

He will be a teammate of Tim Duncan, a player he idolized while growing up.

Brazil’s best international player in recent years, Splitter will next month lead the South Americans in Group B at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey against Team USA, Slovenia, Croatia, Iran and Tunisia.

FIBA