New Silverbacks coach wants to build hardest playing team

Team: The Silverbacks team. PHOTO by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

  • Jordin Mayes top scored for the Silverbacks with 11 points while Syrus Kiviiri and Samuel Kalwanyi added 10 points each with the latter also picking as many rebounds.
  • The Silverbacks sit second in their World Cup qualifying Pool behind Nigeria and ahead of Mali and Rwanda with the top three nations progressing to the next phase after the second leg in Nigeria later this month.

KAMPALA. Lacking experience, undersized and often lacking good shooters, the national basketball team are frequently underdogs at international tournaments.

Most importantly, new Silverbacks coach George Galanopoulos seems to have identified a lack of identity too.

Ahead of the first round of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers return leg later this month, Galanopoulos has decided on the way he wants the team to play as they seek qualification to the next stage.

“Tonight 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.

The Silverbacks lost 90-66 to Saudi Arabia on Saturday having opened their warm-up games with a 90-72 win over Iraq the previous day.

“Every single time that we play no matter what. Tonight, we weren’t that but it’s our second day together and tomorrows going to be the third day and we just need to get better every single day,” he added.

The Silverbacks were faster out of the blocks taking a 27-16 first quarter lead before the Saudis fought back to win the subsequent three quarters.
Jordin Mayes top scored for the Silverbacks with 11 points while Syrus Kiviiri and Samuel Kalwanyi added 10 points each with the latter also picking as many rebounds.

The Silverbacks sit second in their World Cup qualifying Pool behind Nigeria and ahead of Mali and Rwanda with the top three nations progressing to the next phase after the second leg in Nigeria later this month.

GALANOPOULOS PLAN

Ahead of the first round of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers return leg later this month, Galanopoulos has decided on the way he wants the team to play as they seek qualification to the next stage.