Sunday, June 23
*Silverbacks Vs Select Side – 7PM
(Fee – Sh5000, Venue – Lugogo)
The senior men’s national basketball team, the Silverbacks, will be out to test their guns again when they face with Select side at Indoor Arena, Lugogo.
The Silverbacks are in preparations ahead of FIBA Zone five due June 26 in Kampala where Uganda will face off with Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya among other countries for a solo ticket to AFROCAN.
The Silverbacks, managed by coach George Galanopoulos, edged the select team 66-64 on Thursday and will be gauging their progress again.
“We still have a lot of to learn but we have shown good signs today,” commented Silverbacks’ centre Brandon Davies after Thursday’s narrow victory against the cream of the national league.
“We have been together for a little time but we have shown great progress, obviously there are some things we still have fix and once that is done, we will be hard to beat. We are willing to share the ball. We are willing to compete.”
Brandon who was naturalized by Uganda, comes with experience after playing in NBA with Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. He had a good spell in the Euro league with Lithuania’s Zalgris and he has recently joined Barcelona.
On Thursday, he played cautiously but won almost all physical battles against a select side team that had big guys like Landry Ndikumana, Amisi ‘Carmelo’ Saidi and Michael Buzangu.
He scored 13 points on five of eight shooting from the field with his 20 minutes on court and added 10 rebounds.
“Everyone has been nice to me since I arrived in the country (Monday, last week)” Brandon said. “These are all great guys, they have embraced me and there is nothing but great people here.”
“I have tasted a few local dishes, there is something that I have forgotten but Uganda’s bananas is the best in the world. Unbelievable.”
“Playing my first game here was lot of fun, we had good weeks of practice and we have been competing with each other.”
The Select side, coached by Brian Wathum and National Team general manager Mohammed Santur, will be tasked to reveal more work for the National team.
The Teams:
Silverbacks
Isaac Lugudde, Jimmy Enabu, Robinson Opong, Josh Johnson, Ben Komakech, Deng Geu, James Okello, Syrus Kiviiri, Tonny Drilleba, Brandon Davies, Joseph Ikong, Geoffrey Soro, Ivan Muhwezi.
The Select side
Chris Omanye (Warriors), Micheal Bwanga (KIU Titans), Innocent Ochera (Ndejje), Sudi Ulanga (KIU), Dennis Balungu (KIU), Deng David Dikong (UCU), Mike Buzangu (Warriors), Ceaser Kizito (Sharing Youth), Amisi Said Carmelo (Warriors), Francis Chizobe (City Oilers), Daniel Monoja (JKL), Landry Ndikumana (City Oilers).
