Slam's Amaya signs contract to play in Syria
February 28, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash.-Forward Tyler Amaya, who has played with the Bellingham Slam for parts of the previous three seasons, has signed a contract to play professionally in Syria, the team announced today.
Amaya will be departing Tuesday to head to Syriaand join the Meharda basketball club, which plays in the top division of the Syrian Basketball Federation. Amaya will be relied upon to improve the fortunes of a team that has stumbled to a 1-17 record through the first part of the season. The second half of the season will be vitally important to Amaya and his new Meharda teammates, as the bottom four teams in the league play in a relegation tournament at the end of the season, with the losing team facing removal from the league.
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 is set to return to Bellinghamin mid-April, making it likely that he would be available to join the Slam for their 2011 International Basketball League season.
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International Basketball League Stories from February 28, 2011
- Slam's Amaya signs contract to play in Syria - Bellingham Slam
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