The national basketball team Silverbacks, wind up their games at the
Molten Istanbul Cup 2018 with a game against table leaders Cameroon on Thursday.
The West Africans have won all four of their games at the six-team tournament thus far and will be favourites against the Silverbacks who have picked two wins 85-65 over Bahrain and the 90-72 victory over Iraq.
They meanwhile lost 91-75 to Jordan and 90-66 Saudi Arabia results that did not please coach George Galanopoulos.
“We lost by 24 to Saudi Arabia a team that has travelled a lot, playing a lot more aggressively than we were. They played harder than us tonight which is unacceptable. Our identity as a team is going to be that we are the hardest playing team on the court,” Galanopoulos stated.
Despite the indifferent campaign thus far, Galanopoulos, also an Assistant Video Coordinator at NBA side Dallas Mavericks still hailed the impact of the new recruits and those returning to the side.
One of the players, he is expected to rely on is Deng Geu. “He can shoot it, he’s quick on his feet, and he can drive, has a nice post game and can pass the ball as well so he’s a good addition for us. Somebody in the big position that we haven’t had yet as far as the skillset he has,” he said of the power forward/centre.
Guard Jordin Mayes is meanwhile averaging 15.25 points and top scored for Uganda in three of the four games much to his coach’s pleasure.
“He’s a combo guard, he can play a little bit of point guard and he can shoot, he can drive it, a good defender and particularly good scorer,” he stated.
He is also looking at integrating Emmanuel Mugenga into the team who he describes as a “bigger guard who can post up, drive, pass, and play defense.
Lumanyika is then expected to bring the much needed energy from the second unit that was evidently absent as the Silverbacks run out of steam late in the games against Mali and Nigeria.
“He’s a big strong leftie physical he can pass the ball he can drive he’s the guy that we were looking for. Has energy off the bench set screens play around the basket rebound and do whatever he can to bring energy to the game in that second unit,” he said.
Molten Istanbul Cup 2018 results: