Penta Lakers preview
As the hours wind down to the opening of semi-professional basketball tonight at the City Center news five continues its look at the featured teams with the Penta Lakers.
On the eve of the grand opening of semi-pro basketball, we caught up with former champion Penta Lakers in a fine tuning session. Naturally tonight they won’t go at it hard since tomorrow night brings on the real deal. At this end of the court the shooting drill becomes a display of the focus on the Lakers team. While at the other end the supporting cast runs through the offensive sets knowing full well that perfect positioning will be the way to perfect execution.
Of course it’s no secret, the Lakers team is built around the twin towers of Kirk “Shabba” Smith and Claude “Too Tall” Jones. Claude “Too Tall” is impressed with the defense of his new team.
Claude “Too Tall” Jones
“The new thing that the team has is defense and following me, so the stress will not be on me alone to play defense, because I will have Kirk and all of them following.”
Highly touted Clinton Fuller is expected to bring a huge impact to the semi-pro season but he confessed having butterflies going into tomorrow night.
Clinton Fuller
“Before every game there will be butterflies so I do have a lot of butterflies.”
Q: “What’s your biggest fear as a rookie coming into this season?”
Clinton Fuller
“Losing opening night.”
Q: “How do you feel in terms of your physical conditioning?”
Clinton Fuller
“I was in the gym lifting weights, running a lot, training hard. I feel like when CARICOM time – much better. I feel in good shape to do something out there.”
Without a trace of doubt Kirk “Shabba” Smith has emerged the leader on the “lake” and his experience will be crucial if the Penta team is to go the full distance.
Kirk “Shabba” Smith
“I have prepared myself for like a month and a half for the season so I really don’t have a problem giving an account for myself tomorrow. I think we should play a nice game tomorrow because our team is in sink right now and these guys are hype right now.”
Q: “Are you and Claude gonna try to dominate the game like “twin towers”?”
Kirk “Shabba” Smith
“I really don’t think so because you can have 2 big guys and you can still get beaten. We just have to help one another and the core. If the offender has the ball I should go and try to pick up and try to help one another on the court. I think we should fare after all.”
Q: “You’re the team leader, are you ready to shoulder that responsibility?”
Kirk “Shabba” Smith
“I don’t really have a problem with that; that’s what I am here for and I’m gonna take up some slack and take these guys over the hump.”
Roger Favela, a CARICOM teammate of Kirk Smith is nevertheless a rookie going into his first semi-pro tournament. His outside shot is a key ingredient of the Lakers’ game.
Roger Favela
“I’ve been playing basketball all my life so I just shoot the ball up and usually they go in but if they don’t I am ready to shoot again. As a shooter you just have to keep shooting and have confidence; that’s the main thing.”
Q: “This is your debut into semi-pro, do you feel comfortable? Are you intimidated by the opposition – like “the admiral” Lamb, “AC” Augustine; are you intimidated by these players?”
Roger Favela
“No, I’ve been playing – I’ve played against college boys, I’ve played CBA players and NBA players in college and I’ve been playing against top players all my life. I just play and respect the players I play.”
Meanwhile strong man Hugh Staine has graduated from manager to head coach and will be pulling the strings in this orchestra.
Hugh Staine, Head Coach, Penta Lakers
“I have attended different coaching clinics that Olympic Solidarity Association had in Belize City – about 3 of them – and I think from watching the other coaches around, I think I picked up enough and can implement with the players we have.
This team is one of the best Lakers assembly besides our ’92 championship team and we are going for champion no matter what it takes. Our players have the drive to do it and with players like Kirk and Claude who are champions themselves I think we’re in the driver’s seat to go for the goal.”
Obviously manager/coach Hugh Staine eludes confidence. The only question remaining is can he translate that confidence into a championship season. Game I comes up Friday night at the City Center and we’ll be there to find out.
I’m James Adderley reporting for News Five.
The action kicks off tonight with the Penta Lakers battling the B.T.L. Nets.
