RUS - Van Den Spiegel back at friendly CSKA confines

MOSCOW (Euroleague) - CSKA Moscow have called on tried and tested formula to help them survive an injury crisis by signing Belgian center Thomas Van den Spiegel again.

The 29-year-old, who first joined CSKA in the 2005-06 campaign from Lottomatica Roma after the Russian giants' loss of Australian big man David Andersen, played a vital role for that team as they won the Euroleague, Russian Cup and Russian Superleague.

After helping CSKA reach the Euroleague final last season, he left in the summer for Prokom Trefl in Poland.

But CSKA, already without Matjaz Smodis while he recovers from a foot operation, sent out an S.O.S. for the Belgian big man when Alexey Savrasenko was last week lost for the remainder of the year and he jumped at the chance to return.

"Van den Spiegel was number one on the list of candidates that we considered," said CSKA's executive director Andrei Vatutin to Sport-Express.

"Thomas fits CSKA very well, he knows the team, the requirements of the coach (Ettore Messina), he is accustomed to the Russian championship and would like to play for CSKA, which is very important.

"We would like to thank "Sopot" owner Richard Krauze and head coach Thomas Pachesas for releasing the player."

Van den Spiegel is best known for the energy he brings off the bench, which is reflected in his rebounding and shot-blocking, and is expected to play his first game for the club on January 26 against UNICS Kazan.

Prokom signed Van den Spiegel to help them in the Euroleague, and while he earned Player of the Week honors on one occasion, he wasn't able to fire the team to enough wins that would qualify the Poles for the Top 16.

CSKA are top of Group A in the Euroleague with a two-game lead over Tau Ceramica, while in the Russian Superleague they have the same won-loss record (13-1) as leaders Khimki Moscow Region.

FIBA