Basketball
Panthers Confirm Paternostro Signature
22 August 2007
The Team Birmingham Panthers have confirmed the capture of local hero Rob Paternostro ahead of their inaugural season in the BBL Championship.
The 5'10" Italian American point guard featured for the DMU Leicester Riders last season, averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. Panthers' Head Coach, Nigel Lloyd, commented on their first confirmed signing,
"He's a veteran who plays almost like a coach on the floor. His knowledge of the game, and of the BBL, is expansive so he is a good person to have as a leader. From the point guard spot he leads the team; he also likes to push the ball and is a very unselfish player, which is what you need in that position."
Paternostro has had a previous spell in Birmingham as he played for the Bullets between 2000-04. His best previous season in the league was in 2001/02 when he averaged 14.4 points and 6.8 assists per game as the Bullets came runners-up in the National Cup. He has also played professionally in Austria and Belgium since graduating from New Hampshire College. The affinity that the Birmingham public have for the 34-year-old was a key to the new administration at the Panthers bringing him on board,
"Rob is a local hero and that was one of the keys in our signing him," said Lloyd, "the fans love him because they know that he plays with his heart and with determination and leaves it all on the floor every game. Rob will set the tone for the rest of the team every game."
Despite his veteran status, Coach Lloyd insists that no player will walk straight into the team as it is his intention to run a meritocracy where team selection is concerned,
"We aren't giving anyone any spots, everybody in the team has to earn every minute. Rob has assured me that he is going to come back in great shape and ready to compete for the spot. We are going to let the team decide."
The Panthers are due to announce more signings before the end of the week. The team start the season with a mouth-watering trip to the DMU Leicester Riders, Paternostro's former club, in the East vs. West Midlands derby on Saturday 22nd September (19.30 tip-off).
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