SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday the team had signed Puerto Rican Elias Ayuso to a one-year contract.
Ayuso said his contract is fully guaranteed if he is on the roster in January. He becomes the fifth non-American on the Spurs' roster, joining Argentine guard Manu Ginobili, French guard Tony Parker, Yugoslavian center Rasho Nesterovic and Turkish swingman Hedo Turkoglu.
The Spurs also drafted Brazilian guard Leandro Barbosa, but traded him to the Phoenix Suns.
The 6-3, 202-pound Ayuso was a three-year starter at Southern California. He was invited to training camp by the Los Angeles Lakers last autumn after a strong showing at the 2002 World Championships, where he set various Puerto Rico team records for three-point shooting.
