Robinson signs up

Basketball

London Towers have signed the 6ft 9in American Keith Robinson to bolster their defence of the Budweiser League and 7-Up Trophy titles - and he could play himself into their European Cup line-up.

Robinson has played in Turkey, France and America's CBA and makes his league debut this weekend away to Newcastle Eagles tonight and at home to London Leopards tomorrow.

Leopards have won all three games between the clubs this season and cost Towers their National Cup title by beating them in the semi-finals. It is a run that Towers are desperate to break.

Their general manager, Rick Taylor, said: "Last season we felt invincible and it's a great feeling for a team. Now Leopards feel they can't lose against us."

Leopards already have a full quota of five Americans while Robinson brings Towers' US battalion up to four, alongside Danny Lewis, Tony Windless and Joe Hooks. But their coach, Kevin Cadle, can use only two of them when London resume their European Cup campaign at home to Saratov, of Russia, on Tuesday week.

In the qualifying round they paired Lewis with the 6ft 9in Hooks, but they can change their line-up by Monday's registration deadline for the knock-out stage.

Sheffield Sharks, who meet Leopards in the National Cup final two weeks tomorrow, have replaced Mark Harvey with the 6ft 5in American forward Isaac Morgan.