Amaya Re-Joins Slam for Playoff Run
June 7, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash.-The Bellingham Slam has announced that forward Tyler Amaya has re-joined the team this week, in time for the club's push toward the International Basketball League playoffs.
With just three games remaining in the regular season for the Slam, Amaya will need to play in every game to meet an IBL rule that requires players to appear in a minimum of three regular season contests to be considered eligible for playoff competition.
Amaya's return to the Slam was delayed after he suffered a tear to his medial collateral ligament while playing in Syriaearlier this year.
In February, Amaya was signed by the Meharda basketball club which, as one of the four worst teams in Syria's top basketball division, was slated to participate in a relegation tournament with the losing teams moving down to compete in the country's second division the following season.
Amaya suffered his MCL injury in the fourth game of Meharda's best-of-five series with Yarmouk. Without Amaya in the lineup for the series-deciding game five, Meharda lost and was relegated to Syria's second division.
Before his injury, Amaya was averaging 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game in Syria.
Amaya, 28, joined the Slam late in the 2010 season after playing for the Otago Nuggets in New Zealandlast spring. His last full season in Bellinghamwas in 2009, when he was the team's leading scorer and rebounder, with averages of 23.6 points and 11.1 boards per game.
Amaya originally joined the Slam in 2008 and helped guide the team to the International Basketball League championship that season. He was named co-MVP of the title game after posting 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Elkhart Express. Amaya has also played overseas in Germany, the Netherlandsand China. In college, he played two years at Western Washington, helping the Vikings to NCAA West Regional Tournament appearances both seasons, after spending one year each at DixieStateand Gonzaga.
Amaya's first action for the Slam will be this Saturday when the Slam travel to Olympia for a road contest against the Reign, with a 7 p.m. tip-off scheduled at Evergreen State College. Home fans will have just one chance to see him play at Whatcom Pavilion, at the Slam's final regular season game on June 26 against the Kankakee Soldiers at 5 p.m.
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International Basketball League Stories from June 7, 2011
- Amaya Re-Joins Slam for Playoff Run - Bellingham Slam
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