by Vlad Ionasc
A depleted Cheshire Phoenix squad will head to Glasgow for their first away trip of the season where they’ll aim to clinch their first win in the BBL Cup against the new-look Rocks.
The Scottish side overhauled their roster and coaching staff over the summer and as a result, they’ve corralled a team with zero American imports.
Ben Thomas will also have to tinker around with his rotations tonight, as the club announced this morning that a number of ‘key players’ will not be making the trip.
GAME DETAILS
Date: Sunday, November 15th, 2020
Tip-off: 5 p.m.
Competition: BBL Cup
Where: Emirates Arena (behind-closed-doors)
How to watch: FREE on Glasgow’s YouTube channel!
ROCKS SCOUTING REPORT
As previously mentioned, the Rocks reconstructed their roster over the summer, so players such as Greg Pryor, Maxime Djo Ebala, Ali Fraser, Tadas Rinkunas, Dante Thorpe, and Terrell Vinson have all left the club.
Vincent Lavandier, one of the most esteemed coaches in the BBL also left the club over the summer, which in turn meant that Gareth Murray was tasked with the peculiar role of Player/Coach ahead of the new season.
Fraser Malcolm, Jonny Bunyan, and Callum Mortimer are the only other players from the 2019/20 roster that have returned ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Isa Brandon, David Mpondo, Julius Van Sauers, Marc Kwedi, and Boban Jacdonmi all joined the Rocks during the off-season.
This will be Glasgow’s home-opener and their first game in the BBL Cup.
KEY PLAYERS
Glasgow Rocks: Boban Jacdonmi – The 6-foot-9 Brit will be pleased to know that the Nix will come into the building without a natural center at their disposal. This is Jacdonmi’s first foray into professional basketball so he’ll be looking to prove a point to coach Murray and stake his claim as Glasgow’s best big-man. The Southern Mississippi alum averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds on 54.9% FG in limited minutes during his senior year.
Cheshire Phoenix: Disraeli Lufadeju – The Rocks will have the size advantage tonight, however, Lufadeju will bring plenty of experience and energy to an obscure Phoenix squad. Jonny Bunyan is a pesky player who will look to frustrate Phoenix’s guards, and he can also shoot the three at a high-clip, so it’s vital that Lufadeju gets the better of the Scottish point-guard tonight.
COACH’S CORNER
Ben Thomas: “We’re currently facing some adversity and we are ready to compete.
“We have a group of guys who are willing to play as a team and give it their all.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
NEXT HOME GAME
The Nix are scheduled to welcome today’s opponents to the EPSV in their last pool-stage game on the 22nd of November.
GO PHOENIX!