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GREEN, BUT NOT FAZED

Cheridene Green is flourishing amid Great Britain’s summer odyssey.

Not out of her depth, a fish immersed happily in water, the London-born big has absolutely slimmed seamlessly into the fray in her first senior campaign.

Just 23, likely to be a mainstay for the next decade, already reliable with the potential for growth above and beyond.

Along with Janice Monakana, EuroBasket 2019 has provided a graduation party onto the international stage, a spell which will be extended should GB defeat Ukraine on Sunday in Riga and assure themselves, at the very least, of a spot in Monday’s playoff round – or, should Latvia stun Spain – a direct pass into the quarter-finals.

And Green, averaging four points and 3.5 rebounds and a bucketload of effective defence off the bench, has proven her value and then some in spelling Temi Fagbenle and as one half of a sizeable tandem.

Yet it is all a work in progress, she claims.

“I’m still trying to find my purpose with this team. Because I know how I can help the team. I just have to believe in myself that I can. I feel like it’s a journey.

“Things won’t happen overnight. But I’m still finding a way to be on the same page as everybody else.”

GB will need all hands on deck against a Ukraine side who remain winless and are staring instant elimination in the face.

In all likelihood, the Spanish will run the table by seeing off the co-hosts in the evening. Second place, and the probability of confronting Sweden or the Czech Republic, offers Chema Buceta’s side a very appealing alternate.

Lose, and there is the lottery of a possible three-way tie on points, with basket differential coming into play.

Green got used to win-or-exit games during her three years at the University of Tennessee. The Sevenoaks Suns product will soon head for Poland, having signed a one-year deal with Gorzow.

Whenever GB eventually take their leave of EuroBasket, she will depart a little wiser and readier for this past month.

“This is a great experience to have the opportunity to be here,” she affirms. “The first win (over Latvia) that we got, I was really happy about it. We fought really hard.

“The team’s defence and everybody’s energy was great. That’s contagious.”

Buceta remains a figure of calm to quieten any tensions, taking his side through a gentle shootaround on Saturday as a recovery from the excesses of coming 90 seconds away from stunning Spain the previous evening.

Then some time off – for the players at least – to unwind and then regroup for a vital 48 hours.

Ukraine is just test one of two-parter, the 62-year-old Spaniard anticipates. His squad want to be in Belgrade, fighting for something meaningful next Thursday when the quarters are staged.

“We’re taking a longer pathway to the quarter-finals and that means winning on Sunday and Monday,” Buceta said.

“Ukraine missed a lot of shots against Latvia but they have a lot of players who can score. Defensively, they’re not as strong. But our defence has been great and we have to take advantage of that.

“We have to be prepared. We’re in the finals of EuroBasket and the good thing is we are going toe-to-toe with everybody.”

Sunday scenarios (FIBA)

If Spain and Great Britain win:

– If Spain win against Latvia they finish  first in the group with a 3-0 record and qualify directly to the Quarter-Finals.

– Great Britain will finish in second place, Latvia will finish in third place and Ukraine will be eliminated in last place.

If Spain and Ukraine win:

– If Spain win against Latvia they finish  first in the group with a 3-0 record and qualify directly to the Quarter-Finals.

– If Ukraine beat Latvia they can finish in 2nd, 3rd, or even still be eliminated. This scenario will cause a three-way tie situation involving  Ukraine, Great Britain and Latvia who will all hold 1-2 records.  The final standings will be determined by head-to-head records and points differential.  In this scenario, Latvia can only finish 3rd or be eliminated.

If Latvia and Great Britain win:

– Ukraine will be eliminated and there will be a three-way tie for positions 1st, 2nd and 3rd, since Spain, Latvia and Great Britain will all hold 2-1 records. The final standings will be determined by head-to-head records and points differential.  In this scenario, only Great Britain can’t drop as low as third place.

If Latvia and Ukraine win:

– Latvia will finish as the group winners and qualify directly to the Quarter-Finals.
– Spain will finish in second place, Ukraine will be third and Great Britain will be eliminated

Photo: Mansoor Ahmed

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