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Bradford Dragons basketball club are thrilled to confirm that Joaquín Calvo will be returning to the Dragons’ Den for a second season, whilst experienced British Basketball League (BBL) player, Allie Fullah has also been added to their roster.
21-year-old, 6’4” Spanish forward, Calvo is a product of the Gran Canaria Basketball Academy in Spain who, following his graduation, opted to pursue a playing career in the United Kingdom.
Following a successful 2015/16 season with Liverpool Basketball Club, in which they won the National Basketball League (NBL) division two play-offs final, whilst Calvo personally picked up the clubs most improved player award, he then went on to represent Leeds Beckett University in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Northern premier league. Leeds finished sixth in the regular table and went on to be losing finalists in the end of season play-off championships.
Calvo, then made the step up to NBL division one, with the Dragons, for the 2017/18 season, in which he was an ever-present member of the squad, making a valuable contribution from the bench.
21-year-old, 6’4” Spanish forward, Calvo is a product of the Gran Canaria Basketball Academy in Spain who, following his graduation, opted to pursue a playing career in the United Kingdom.
Following a successful 2015/16 season with Liverpool Basketball Club, in which they won the National Basketball League (NBL) division two play-offs final, whilst Calvo personally picked up the clubs most improved player award, he then went on to represent Leeds Beckett University in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Northern premier league. Leeds finished sixth in the regular table and went on to be losing finalists in the end of season play-off championships.
Calvo, then made the step up to NBL division one, with the Dragons, for the 2017/18 season, in which he was an ever-present member of the squad, making a valuable contribution from the bench.
“It’s great to be back at Bradford,” comments Calvo. “Last season was my first at the club and the experience that I went through made it a very easy decision to stay.
“Last season was a good one for the team, but the goal for this year is to on what we have done in the past. I really feel that the upcoming season is going to be a good one.”
Dragon’s head coach, Chris Mellor added, “Joaquín returns for his second season and I’m hoping that he can build on the good things he did for the team last year. He’s a good influence, in and around the team and that’s needed over a long season.”
Meanwhile, 29-year-old, 6’8” London born power forward, Fullah brings some much-needed height to the Dragon’s roster – something which they were short of the last time around.
Call ups to the Great Britain under 20s in 2008 and 2009 provided a springboard for Fullah, who won back to back championships with the College of Central Florida, in the United States, before signing for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division one school Charleston Southern.
On graduating from Charleston, Fullah then completed his rookie year with Calais, in the French second division before moving back to his home town with the London Lions, in the BBL, for the start of the 2015/16 season.
Fullah has also enjoyed spells with BBL sides, Surry Scorchers and Leeds Force, whilst he spent the latter part of last season with NBL division one side, Lancashire Spinners.
“It’s an honour to be a part of the Bradford Dragons organisation,” said Fullah. “I hope to be competitive in the league and to have fun playing basketball again.”
Mellor says of his new recruit, “Allie joins us for his first season and hopefully we can harness the talent he has, so he can be a very productive player for us. He offers something at both ends of the court and he’s worked hard this summer to get himself in the right condition.”
Fullah will hope to make his Dragons debut during the first games of the season, a National Trophy Double header weekend, away at Team Newcastle University Knights, on Saturday 29th September and then a home fixture against Manchester Magic the following afternoon.
The league campaign commences the following weekend, on Saturday 6th October, with a home tie against newly promoted Nottingham Hoods. All home fixtures will once again be played at the Bradford College Sports Hall on Trinity Road.
Details of preseason fixtures will be announced shortly.
Photo edits by Chloe Love
“Last season was a good one for the team, but the goal for this year is to on what we have done in the past. I really feel that the upcoming season is going to be a good one.”
Dragon’s head coach, Chris Mellor added, “Joaquín returns for his second season and I’m hoping that he can build on the good things he did for the team last year. He’s a good influence, in and around the team and that’s needed over a long season.”
Meanwhile, 29-year-old, 6’8” London born power forward, Fullah brings some much-needed height to the Dragon’s roster – something which they were short of the last time around.
Call ups to the Great Britain under 20s in 2008 and 2009 provided a springboard for Fullah, who won back to back championships with the College of Central Florida, in the United States, before signing for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division one school Charleston Southern.
On graduating from Charleston, Fullah then completed his rookie year with Calais, in the French second division before moving back to his home town with the London Lions, in the BBL, for the start of the 2015/16 season.
Fullah has also enjoyed spells with BBL sides, Surry Scorchers and Leeds Force, whilst he spent the latter part of last season with NBL division one side, Lancashire Spinners.
“It’s an honour to be a part of the Bradford Dragons organisation,” said Fullah. “I hope to be competitive in the league and to have fun playing basketball again.”
Mellor says of his new recruit, “Allie joins us for his first season and hopefully we can harness the talent he has, so he can be a very productive player for us. He offers something at both ends of the court and he’s worked hard this summer to get himself in the right condition.”
Fullah will hope to make his Dragons debut during the first games of the season, a National Trophy Double header weekend, away at Team Newcastle University Knights, on Saturday 29th September and then a home fixture against Manchester Magic the following afternoon.
The league campaign commences the following weekend, on Saturday 6th October, with a home tie against newly promoted Nottingham Hoods. All home fixtures will once again be played at the Bradford College Sports Hall on Trinity Road.
Details of preseason fixtures will be announced shortly.
Photo edits by Chloe Love
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