No pressure, just an opportunity to 'take a step forward for Irish basketball'

Ireland face Azerbaijan and Kosovo this week in two crucial World Cup pre-qualifiers.

Thu, 21 Nov, 2024 - 06:45

PJ Browne

To a man, the Ireland camp views this week's two Fiba World Cup pre-qualifiers at home to Azerbaijan (today, 5pm) and Kosovo (Sunday, 5pm) as "must win". They currently sit fourth in the four-team group after defeats away to Kosovo and at home to Switzerland earlier this year. The group winner will advance to the second round of qualifying along with the best ranked second place team from three groups.

"I don't think we've ever had two home games like this," said Ireland head coach Mark Keenan.

"We're based here for the week. You have to capitalise on your home games.

"I don't think we see it as pressure. We see it as a great opportunity to get us back in the group, to get us back in contention and to put us in the right space for next February."

The task is made even tougher by the absence of keys players CJ Fulton, Sam Alajiki and Taiwo Badmus. Fulton and Alajiki are unavailable due to commitments with their college teams in the States while Badmus recently picked up an injury playing for his club in Iceland.

"Three obviously important players for our team and have been for the last little while," said Ireland captain Seán Flood.

"We had Tai and Sam for the games against Switzerland but we were without CJ. No one person is going to substitute Tai's scoring, it's going to have to be a bunch of different guys chipping in, doing a little bit extra.

"Obviously, with Sam's rebounding... He's one of the best guard rebounders I've seen or played with. So it's going to be by committee as well, kind of making up for his energy. And then obviously, what CJ brings, a little bit of calmness.

"We've got hopefully Roy (Downey) and Paul (Dick) who can step up and take a little bit of the weight off that as well, kind of let myself be a little bit more free whenever I can be too."

For Keenan, the focus is all on Azerbaijan. "If we don't get the win on Thursday, it taints Sunday," he said. Ireland lost 83-76 to Kosovo in February in front of a raucous home crowd. The game was Ireland's debut at this level. Keenan hopes the crowd in Tallaght provide similar support this week. "It's a five o'clock tip off on a Thursday, let's hope we can get a full house in. We just need to get off to a rocking start."

Flood views these games - both of which will be shown live on TG4 - as an opportunity to make history for Irish basketball.

"It's a chance for us to take a step forward for Irish basketball and win a World Cup pre-qualifier," he said.

"That's something that we've never done as a country or as a federation. To be part of a team like that, to take that first step would be great."