KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Breakers have signed 210cm American basketball forward Derrick Alston to fill in for the injured Rick Rickert.
Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis said that pending contract approval, the 35-year-old would join the team for the next month with the possibility of him staying on until the end of the season.
Rickert has missed the last three home games due to a bulging disc in his lower back, weakening the team's attacking fire-power.
Alston spent two full seasons in the United States NBA before heading to Europe to play in Turkey, Spain, Croatia, France and Russia.
He is due in Auckland on Tuesday and will be available for the Breakers' next National Basketball League match against the defending champion Bullets in Brisbane on Sunday week.
"Once again, our scouting system has done well to identify that a player of Derrick's quality is available because his resume speaks volumes for his ability," Lemanis said.
"He is a very experienced player, but offers the benefits of that experience in addition to his physical skills.
"You don't survive in those leagues unless you have the skill and personality and we believe he is perfect for the role we need him to play."
The Breakers were last night beaten 100-120 by the table-topping Sydney Kings in Auckland last night and Rickert's presence was missed both in rebounding and as a regular source of inside points.
- NZPA
