GBR - Brits end losing streak with win over Slovenia
SEVILLE (EuroBasket 2009) - British basketball was on a high after qualifying for EuroBasket 2009 but there have mainly lows this summer as the national team attempts to find its feet without injured star Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who has had protracted negotiations with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. The Houston Rockets have reportedly reached ...
SEVILLE (EuroBasket 2009) - British basketball was on a high after qualifying for EuroBasket 2009 but there have mainly lows this summer as the national team attempts to find its feet without injured star Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who has had protracted negotiations with the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets have reportedly reached verbal agreement with Mensah-Bonsu on a contract but until pen is put to paper, the Brits will have to compete without the low-post presence that was vital in their qualifying campaign.
At least Great Britain showed they can beat one of their Group C opponents without Mensah-Bonsu, and Deng, on the last day of the Torneo Mara Ciudad de Sevilla.
Kieron Achara, Nate Reinking and Andy Betts led the Brits to a 63-56 triumph.
Forward Achara had 13 points and six rebounds, playmaker Reinking scored 13 and big center Betts weighed in with 11 points and six boards.
After losing to Poland, Turkey and Israel at ‘Game On at the O2’ in London and then falling to Spain and Lithuania in Seville, Friday’s win was just what Chris Finch’s team needed with the EuroBasket quickly approaching.
"I think we played a lot more focused,” Achara said. “We were able to stay in the game mentally as well as physically and in the end we scrapped out the win.
"It was very important we got that win. It allows us to regain some confidence in ourselves individually and as a team and it shows us that we can compete at this level.
"I think at this stage in the preparation, it is nice to get a win especially against someone who will be in our group.
"Though we know that this win won't mean anything in September, team strategies and personnel will all change by then so we know that this game is not the one that counts and we have to stay focused for whatever they throw at us during EuroBasket.”
Britain will also take on world champions Spain and Serbia in Group C at the EuroBasket, which tips off on September 7 in Poland.
The top six sides will earn a trip to the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. If the Turks are in the top six, then the top seven national sides will book tickets to next year’s big event.
FIBA