27 June 2013
BEIRUT: Last seasons league champions Champville signed Ali Kanaan from Lebanese league rivals Riyadi to a three-year contract Wednesday. Kanaan, who can play in a number of positions under the basket, had previously played for Antranik in 2010 before moving to Riyadi for the last two seasons.
He could prove to be the best fit for head coach Ghassan Sarkis in the power forward spot, with the team relying on foreign big men in recent years.
Kanaan (206 cm, 28 years) averaged 4.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game this season. He began as a backup for Egyptian talisman Ismael Ahmad before replacing him when the latter got injured.
Champville are also said to be in negotiations with former point guard Mohammed Ibrahim, however, he is still under contract with Sagesse for one more year.
Ibrahim is believed to have asked to be released from his contract, and could be destined for a second stint with Champville after helping them win the league for the first time in history during the 2011-2012 season.
Elsewhere, speculation that Riyadis Jean Abdelnour could be on his way out of Manara has been dismissed by the player himself.
The forward cooled speculation suggesting he was leaving this summer, telling The Daily Star that he had no clue how the rumors started.
Abdelnour had been linked with a move to league giants Sagesse but the Lebanon international claimed Riyadi have said hes very much part of manager Slobodan Subotics plans:
I dont know where that came from. I am a Riyadi player until the summer of 2014, and I dont have any intentions to leave the club.
Abdelnour, who averaged 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season, is currently preparing with the Lebanese National Team for the upcoming FIBA ASIA Championship in Philippines in August.
Copyright The Daily Star 2013.
