AJ Edu gets a new lease on life in the Japan B.League first division after signing with Nagasaki Velca.
The Gilas Pilipinas center made the move official after an injury-plagued first year with Toyama.
Edu, 24, played only 14 games for the Grouses and averaged a solid 13.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 29.2 minutes before suffering a torn meniscus in a game against the Utsunomiya Brex in November last year.
“I am honored to take the next step in my career with Nagasaki Velca. There is a lot of excitement ahead for this club and I look forward to being a part of it,” said the 6-foot-10 big man in a statement.
Fresh start for Edu
With him on the mend, Toyama slumped to a 4-56 win-loss record and was relegated to the second division.
But with Edu signing with Nagasaki, the Toledo product gets a second chance to prove his worth in the first division, as he looks to contribute to the Velca which ended up with a 27-33 card last year.
He’s also looking to rekindle the flame he had in his Gilas Pilipinas stint last year in the 2023 FIBA World Cup where he ended up as the team’s top rebounder with 8.6 boards, good for seventh in the global hoops conclave,
He also added 8.2 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks to those productions, and if he can come close to his World Cup form, he'll certainly be a major asset for the Velca.
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