LONDON UNITED REFLECT ON POSITIVE FIRST SEASON IN BBL
A long, tough debut season in the elite British Basketball League, which saw London United, the capital’s only professional basketball club, reach the end of season play-off quarter finals, will stand the team in good stead for the new season, according to its General Manager, David Schiller.
[UKPRwire, Wed Apr 18 2007] A long, tough debut season in the elite British Basketball League, which saw London United, the capital’s only professional basketball club, reach the end of season play-off quarter finals, will stand the team in good stead for the new season, according to its General Manager, David Schiller.
"We’ve learned a lot but can look back on the season with qualified satisfaction,” explains Schiller. “On the positive side, we were competitive throughout. Most new franchises get blown away in their first BBL season, but that didn't happen to us. We were by far the smallest outfit in the BBL in terms of resources available but still achieved our goal of reaching the play-offs with a predominately British player roster.”
Tony Garbelotto’s team were just one score away from beating the League and Cup winners, Guildford Heat, and making it into the semi-finals. London United’s Tarick Johnson also finished the season as top scorer in the BBL.
"We came with a game plan to play them possession for possession and slow the game down,” explains Garbelotto. “Even with our depleted resources the guys nearly pulled it off. Farid Haif was immense and dominated the boards, Tarick Johnson showed yet again why he's been the league's outstanding player whilst LaTaryl Williams put in by far his best performance. Feggins and Capers played tough and hit made double figure contributions. I really can't fault any of them.”
David Schiller singles out the wins against Leicester in the club’s first match and the overtime win over Chester as the highlights of a positive first season.
“We’re pretty confident that we've laid the foundations to really kick on next year both on and off court,” adds Schiller. “We hope that Chester Jets survive and that a few more sides step up as an expanded league next season of 16 teams playing each other twice would be fantastic.”
Ends.
Press Information:
Howard Robinson
Early Doors
T: 0207 754 5560
E: howard@earlydoors.com
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