Rah rah, Ebi Ere
TweetYES the rumours are true. Dual NBL-championship winning import Ebi Ere is Adelaide 36ers' last signing for the 2015-16 season and he couldn't be happier.
"I did want to come back to Australia," the 195cm shooting guard said.
He's been here before, winning a championship with the Kings in 2003-04, then back again to win another one with the Bullets in 2006-07.
This time he stuck around and was All Star Five as Brisbane made it back to the semi finals.
Then when the Bullets disappeared, he headed south to Melbourne where he was All Star Five again as the Tigers made it to the Grand Final.
But this time his former Sydney coach Brian Goorjian had the last laugh, coaching South Dragons to their solitary championship, beating Ere's Tigers.
It's not a bad record is it? Four years in the NBL for four post-seasons, three Grand Finals, two Championships.
"Ebi is a winner," 36ers coach Joey Wright said.
Yet the first thing most pundits will point to when reviewing whether Ere - pronounced "Er-Rah" - is a good pick-up or otherwise is his age.
Ere is 34.
There's a nice irony in questioning whether he still has "it" when, a few weeks ago when Illawarra announced it was signing Kirk Penney, there was nothing but excitement.
Penney is 35 in November.
Ere has been posting numbers in leagues in Italy, Spain and France and joined the 36ers in Adelaide on Saturday.
As a proven winner, asked whether he saw any championship prospects in his new team he said it was too early to tell.
"I don't know the league," he said.
"I remember DJ (Daniel Johnson at the Tigers) but he wasn't playing when I was there.
"And I know Gibbo (Adam Gibson) obviously."
The pair were together for Brisbane's title run.
So did Ebi really want to come back to Oz because he missed hearing the "Rah, rah, Ebi Ere" chants?
"I dunno man," he laughed.
"It's a great group of young guys and I'm coming into this fresh.
"You have to build the bond."
The building has commenced.
Online
Lucas Walker on moving to the 36ers: http://bit.ly/1MMoWUe
Ebi joins Adelaide: http://bit.ly/1EVvn0S