Hibernians BC opened their summer intake as they announced their first import signing on Thursday, naming US forward Justin Bogle.
Bogle, 25, joins the team on the back of his latest stint in Georgia with Super League team Tskum-Apkhazeti. He joined the Georgian side back in 2019 after finishing his college career in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with Mid-America Christian University.
The signing comes right after the Paola club confirmed Silvio Cassar as their new head coach for this coming season to replace Mario Tabone who is serving a season ban from the sport.
The club will be looking to turn the page after an unfortunate ending to last season’s commitments after they were kicked out of last season’s National League Play-offs and will incur a three-point deduction this season.
Such a signing provides cover after both Christian Soderholm and Mason Vires opted not to re-sign with the club this summer.
Later, the Paola club issued a statement clarifying that the departure of the two import players took place after a mutual agreement.
“Hibernians Basketball Club would like to state that the decision for both Christian Soderholm and Mason Vires was taken on the basis of a mutual agreement reached between the Club and both players. It had nothing to do with last season’s unfortunate ending for which the Club has paid an extremely high price, out of all proportion with the ‘tanking’ offence committed, which included various suspensions and a hefty fine imposed by the Malta Basketball Association,” the statement read.
