Basketball: Paternostro re-signs for Bullets

Birmingham Bullets' coach Tony Garbelotto finally signed Rob Paternostro yesterday, five months behind schedule, and the 29-year-old Irish American will make his second debut for the club against Essex Leopards at the Aston Event Centre tonight.

Paternostro was voted the Bullets' most valuable player last season after leading the BBL championship in assists and Garbelotto's priority was to re-sign him and his former club-mate Emiko Etete.

However, Etete went to Brighton Bears and Paternostro left for a fruitless four months in Belgium when contract talks broke down with the Bullets' owner Craig Bown.

After Thursday's 81-80 defeat at Milton Keynes Lions, their 14th loss in 16 games, the Bullets slipped back to last place in the championships and Garbelotto said: "Emiko and Rob were my priority signings because of their leadership and experience. Had we signed them in the summer I know we wouldn't be in this position.''

After losing 14 games on the bounce, the Leicester Riders coach Billy Mims knows there are no easy fixtures left for his team. But, as he seeks to rebuild their confidence and reimpose his motivational magic, the 42-year-old from South Carolina could have done without the visit of Chester Jets to Loughborough University's £4m sports hall tonight.

Chester, the defending champions lost four of their first six BBL games, but are now unbeaten in seven and have climbed to fourth. The Jets are a point win behind the leaders Sheffield Sharks and second-placed Brighton Bears and four wins ahead of Thames Valley Tigers, who are third having played five more games.