RSS
@
Twitter
Facebook
Former NBA protégé Pops Mensah-Bonsu vowed to provide firepower for Great Britain, while Dan Clark is looking forward to play a key role for the National Basketball Team.
The 6-foot-9 highflying forward, who played for the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, and San Antonio Spurs, will bolster Great Britain’s campaign in the EuroBasket Qualifier together with Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng.
Mensah-Bonsu expressed his excitement over his impending stint with National Team, but he knows that it will not be an easy task for them so they have no room for being complacent.
“This is a big summer for the programme and if we could get a sell-out and a big, vocal crowd behind us then we’ve got a better chance of making it to Eurobasket again and solidifying our position in the world elite in the run-up to 2012.” Mensah-Bonsu said.
“I think you can see how serious we are about making Eurobasket with the players that we’ve got. To have Luol is a big thing for us because he’s a genuine superstar.” he added.
Aside from Mensah-Bonsu, Dan Clark is also raring to prove something this year, after spending a lot of time on the bench in EuroBasket last year.
The 21-year old Clark, who is currently playing for the Club Estudiantes, was relegated on the bench last year because the team was stacked with big men like Joel Freeland, Robert Archibald, and Andy Betts.
All those three big men will not be with the team this time after sustaining injuries, which will definitely give Clark an opportunity to shine.
“It’s unfortunate that they are injured, but it’s an opportunity you have to take and that’s the way this business works. I had a personal meeting with the coach, we all did, and he made it quite clear what he wants us to go out there and do.” Clark said.
“I’m feeling confident. I got quite a few more minutes this year at club level in Spain and I’m happy with that and want to bring that onto the international level now.” he added.
Great Britain will kick off their EuroBasket Qualifier campaign against Macedonia on August 8 and is expected to be an exciting clash between the two promising teams. GB was drawn in Group B of the tournament and will go up against Hungary, Ukraine, Macedonia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
“I think we have a very good chance of qualifying,” Clark added. “All the teams we have to play are good teams but we just have to do our best. We need a bit of luck in some situations but I think if we play hard we’ll be fine.”
Related posts:
Buzz