Cape Verde - National male team: The head coach Emanuel Travoada left for an Angolan club

The Cape Verdian National team is officially without a head coach. Emanuel Travoada, who had dismissed reports that he was leaving, has finally left to Angola to join Desportivo da Huila, in the Angola naitonal championship.

With the Pre-Olympic Qualifying tournament to be held from 17th to 20th July 2008 in Athens (Greece), the Cape Verdian Basketball Federation has been hit with another problem to resolve.

The speculation about the move, began in October, but FIBA-Africa had reported in November, the Emanuel Travoada denied the move.

"It is just speculation. It is true that they contacted me, but I am still Cape Verde coach", he told PA sport.

We have just received the confirmation that Emanuel Travoada will leave to Angola this week to join his new team.

ITA - Lucas III returns to Italy with Benetton Treviso

TREVISO (Lega A) - Benetton Treviso have bolstered their lineup with the signing of John Lucas III, the 25-year-old son of the former NBA star John Lucas.

Lucas III, a point guard who played collegiately for Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State, spent the 2005-06 campaign with Snaidero Udine.

To make room for the new player, Benetton have released ex-Spain international Rodrigo De La Fuente.

Benetton coach Mahmuti Oktay said: "I watched him (Lucas) play at Udine but once he arrives here, we will see what his condition is and how he will able to adapt to European Basketball.

"He's a player with talent but talent is only one part of the system."

Lucas III had signed a three-year deal with the Houston Rockets in the summer of 2006 and averaged 3.3 point per contest, but he was unable to make his season's roster.

His father, John Harding Lucas II, played college basketball at the University of Maryland and represented the United Sates at the FIBA World Championship in 1974, helping them to capture the bronze medal.

He would go on the number one pick in the 1976 NBA draft and was a star point guard in Houston.

Benetton have struggled all season in Lega A and are fourth from bottom, with 7 win and 11 defeats.

They did manage to claim a 93-71 triumph at Solsonica Rieti on Sunday, with Great Britain international Pops Mensah-Bansu pouring in 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Montepaschi Siena are running away with the regular season title in Italy.

They are undefeated with 18 victories after Sunday's resounding 82-58 home win over Snaidero Udine.

The teams closest to them are Premiata Montegranaro and Lottomatica Roma, teams with 12-6 records.

Angelico Biella, Air Avellino, Scavolini Pesaro all (11-7), Pierrel Capo d'Orlando (10-7) and Fortitudo Bologna (8-10) round out the top eight.

However, it's a very tight race to the Coppa Italia, which the top eight sides will play in by midseason.

Armani Jeans Milano, Virtus Bologna, Cantu, Rieti and Teramo also each have eight wins, and Snaidero and Benetton - the defending Coppa Italia champions - have seven wins apiece.