Vertical Vision Cantu have loaned Germany international Misan Nikagbatse to Lega Due side Supor Montegranaro for the remainder of the campaign.

The 1.93m guard, who represented his country at EuroBasket 2005 and helped them win a silver medal, has not made the impact the Italian club were hoping for when they signed him in the summer from Sedima Roseto.

In eight EuroCup games, the 23-year-old Nikagbatse averaged 5.1 points in just over 17 minutes per contest.

In the 18-team Lega A, Cantu are 14th with five wins and nine defeats and Nikagbatse was averaging only 3.9 points.

"We had high expectations for Nikagbatse but he hasn't been able to show his true value," said sporting director Bruno Arrigoni to PA Sport.

"He has a two-year contract with us and we believed it was best that we loaned him to a team which would allow him to play more and then come back to us because at the moment, he would be on the bench."

Cantu coach Pino Sacripanti has also lost American guard Nate Johnson, who averaged 11.8 points per game in five EuroCup appearances but has now left the club.

"We will certainly sign a player," said Arrigoni.

"We are evaluating sevAeral candidates, but we still haven't reached a final decision.

"Nate Johnson had some physical problems this season and he also had some personal problems. Even though he is a very good player, he looked a little bit lost.

"Obviously the coach is unhappy because he is missing two players. We also have (Mindaugas) Katelynas, who we are hoping will be able to return to play at some point this season.

"Katelynas has a wrist injury and we don't know when he will be able to play."

Cantu look to end a six-game losing streak in Lega A when they host Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia on Sunday.

Two days later, Pino Sacripanti's team play at home against Dynamo Moscow Region in the EuroCup.

In that competition, they narrowly progressed to Round II but have lost both of their games in the second phase.