Bahamian players star for European basketball clubs

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TRAVIS Munnings and Kino Burrows each posted season high scoring efforts for their new clubs to top the performances of Bahamian basketball players on the pro circuit in Europe.

Munnings had a standout performance against his former club and led Sporting Lisboa Benfica to a 97-70 win over UD Oliveriense Tuesday night.

The third year forward finished with 18 points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes on the floor.

On the season, Munnings is averaging 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for Benfica as the team is out to a 3-0 record in the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

The club will return to FIBA EuroCup play tonight when they match up against Parma.

In his debut season in the LPB, Munnings averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game helped lead UD Oliveirense to a 19-7 regular season record. Benfica eliminated Oliveirense in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs.

Burrows scored a game high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 18 minutes to help St. Thomas Basket Le Havre to a 79-72 win over Kayserberg

The veteran forward moved into the starting lineup and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds through five games this season, his first with the club after spending his previous French seasons in the French ProB League.

Le Harve improved to 2-3, 10th in Group B.

Last season, Burrows completed his second stint with the FOS Provence-Basket Byers of the LNB Pro B League. In 11 games, he averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game en route to the Byers claiming the league championship and receiving a promotion to JEEP Elite Pro A for the second time in club history.

Aaron Levarity continues to be a leader for the Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen in Denmark.

Levarity finished with 16 points, a game high 13 rebounds and four assists in yesterday’s 93-74 win over Amager yesterday. Svendborg improved to 5-0.

Earlier this week, he scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a dominant 116-74 win over seventh ranked Randers.

The third year pro is averaging a double double - 14 points and 11 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 68 percent from the floor.

In his first season with the club, Levarity is averaging a team leading 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.