Sporting Digest: Basketball

Eric Burks, who won two Budweiser League titles and the National Cup with London Leopards, has joined Milton Keynes Lions for the new season which begins on Saturday week.

Leicester Riders have agreed one-year contracts with the former England international Karl Brown, Hilroy Thomas and Drew Barrett for the forthcoming campaign. Brown, 32, joined the club in the middle of last season while Thomas, 27, will be in his seventh year with the Riders. Barrett, 25, will be in his fifth consecutive season with the club.

Tim Lascelles, the British game's longest serving one-club player, has signed for a 15th season with Derby Storm and will have a testimonial game to celebrate the opening of their new arena, the Thunderdome next week.

China secured their place in next year's Olympics at the weekend bybeating Korea 63-45 in the final of the Asian Championship.

The Houston Comets won the WNBA with a 59-47 victory over the New York Liberty in the decisive third game of the Finals on Sunday. It is the third consecutive title for the Comets.