Home / UK HOOPS / BBL / REINKING SHEFFIELD-BOUND, UP FOR PORTUGAL

REINKING SHEFFIELD-BOUND, UP FOR PORTUGAL

Nate Reinking will pit himself against Portugal on Sunday but this season, the Great Britain guard will take his game to Sheffield.

It will mark the completion of a round trip for the veteran, who began his career in the British Basketball League, starring for the Sharks before heading off to mainland Europe in search of even greater fame and fortune.

Now GB’s most-capped player, it is likely to be the final year of a distinguished for Ohio-born Reinking, who will turn 38 in December.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he revealed. “It’s going to be good to see a lot of people. I spent a lot of years there so it’s a special place for me.”

Sheffield’s gain is Mersey’s loss after Reinking proved a key cog in the Tigers’ treble run of last term.

“From my perspective, it was a honour to coach him,” said Mersey coach Tony Garbelotto, who is in Lithuania as part of GB’s scouting corps.

“He deserves to go back to the club where he had so much success and it’s a great way for him to end his career. It’s a big loss for me but I wish him all the best.”

Reinking’s priority is helping Britain get the win they require against the Portuguese to hold off certain elimination. Victory here, followed by another against Poland on Monday in their final group tie, might still not be enough to progress.

They’re all must-wins,” said Reinking who is averaging 9.3 points per game. “That’s how we’re approaching every game but we’re not getting the results right now. “

Clark says it’s win or bust

Clark: determined (Map Photos)

Great Britain forward Dan Clark has insisted that the EuroBasket campaign will be a failure if the side go home from Lithuania winless.

Defeats to Lithuania, Spain and Turkey – all ranked in the world’s top ten – were to be expected and are no disgrace.

However that does not make them any more acceptable, states the Estudiantes star.

“We knew it would be tough,” said Clark. “But sport’s about winning. We’re sportsmen. We’re competitors and we want to win. It’s tough to lose. Moral victories don’t count. They don’t work for us. If we don’t get a W, it’s a downer for us.”

With Saturday as an off-day from games in Group A, Britain is expected to rest up and prepare for Portugal with video sessions and a walk through at the team hotel.

With Robert Archibald’s condition improving, there are hopes that GB might be a full strength for what is effectively an elimination game.

“We’re going in thinking we’re going to win,” Clark added. “That’s our objective. We came here to win these two. What we need to demonstrate now is that we can win games at this level.

“If we come in, compete, play badly and get the win, we’d be a lot happier. We need a win.”

 

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Print
Ad

You must be logged in to post a comment Login