Basketball: Bowman key to defence

LONDON TOWERS hope to boost their title challenge, domestically at least, after signing the American guard Barry Bowman, who made his debut against Edinburgh Rocks last night.

Bowman, no relation to Derby Storm's recent signing Jerrell Bowman, can play no part in Towers' final two games in the European Saporta Cup, which appear a lost cause following Tuesday's night's 78-67 home defeat against Plannga of Sweden.

Bowman joins Towers straight from Georgetown College, an NAIA school outside the orbit in which the major NCAA universities play but the coach, Ron Abegglen, said: "Barry is learning all the time and shows much promise."

Towers have qualified for the uni-ball League Trophy and have enough games in hand to climb into the championship play-off places. But, to qualify for the knockout stage of the Saporta Cup, they must win their last two games, against group winners Darssafaka of Turkey and Aalst of Belgium.