ESP - Unicaja look for spark from Slovenian Tusek

MALAGA (ACB) - Unicaja Malaga have swooped for Slovenian international Marko Tusek.

The reigning Spanish champions have agreed terms with the 2.04m power forward who will join the them until the end of the current season with an option for another year.

Malaga coach Sergio Scariolo said of the former Armani Jeans Milano, Lottomatica Roma and Union Olimpija player: “We are confident that Marko Tusek can reinforce our team and improve our bench with his versatility.

“After the initial settling-in period, we are confident that his offensive talent and his solid defense will complete the team.

“For that reason, we have decided to incorporate him into the team immediately.”

Tusek, 31, travelled to his home country of Slovenia on Tuesday to meet up with his new team-mates ahead of their Euroleague game against Union Olimpija.

Malaga only recently loaned out another Slovenian, Erazem Lorbek, to Benetton Treviso for the rest of the season.

Lorbek, a 2005 draft pick of the Indiana Pacers, is a highly-rated big man as well but struggled to find his rhythm in Spain following his summer switch and returned to Italy where he previously played for Climamio Bologna.

Unicaja started slowly this season with four defeats in their first five ACB games after the departure of Spanish international star Jorge Garbajosa and Argentina national team player Walter Herrmann to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats, respectively.

The club signed Spain captain Carlos Jimenez and brought in Lorbek as replacements and have gradually improved.

In the ACB of late, they have played much better with four wins in their last five games.

In the Euroleague, they need to win two games in a row to boost their chances of reaching the Top 16.

They are currently seventh in Group B with a 4-6 record.

By PA Sport