YAOUNDE (Cameroon) – What a morale booster for Uganda in advance of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021! The ‘Silverbacks’ climbed eight destinations in the most current FIBA World Rankings to turn into No.13 in Africa, a reward for their thriving AfroBasket Qualifiers campaign.
In the develop-up to this year’s FIBA AfroBasket in Kigali, from August 24 to September, below are some vital facts about Uganda:
Group: Uganda.
FIBA Ranking Adult males: 90th (Environment) 13th (Africa).
Previous participation in the AfroBasket: 2017 (3 losses 13th-Spot).
Greatest consequence at AfroBasket: 13th-Spot at FIBA AfroBasket 2017.
How they experienced for the AfroBasket 2021: Uganda completed next in Group E of the Qualifiers with a 3-1 mark.
Environment: Uganda have hardly ever played at world competitions.
Youth teams influence: After two consecutive appearances at FIBA U18 African Championship (2016 and 2018), Uganda skipped out the 4-nation 2020 edition of the tournament in Cairo.
In a take note sent to FIBA.basketball, the Federation of Uganda Basketball Affiliation explained: “Our youth groups have recently been frequenting the regional and continental championships… Whilst they have not reached the semis or finals, we generally get in the swing of issues. We are hoping to be regular.”
Heritage/Qualification: The FIBA AfroBasket 2015 marked Uganda’s very first look in the heritage of the levels of competition in a long time.
The East Africans returned to the African Championship two yrs afterwards, and will be celebrating their 3rd straight AfroBasket look afterwards this month in Kigali.
Critical Players: Ishmail Wainwright created his Uganda debut in type in the initial window of the Qualifiers in November 2020.
It can be reasonable to affirm that Wainwright turned the heart and soul of the ‘Silverbacks’ these kinds of was his impact throughout the Qualifiers.
Ishmail Wainright
A terrific shooter and intense defender, Wainright, who has just lately signed a two-calendar year offer with the Toronto Raptors, propelled Uganda into their 3rd straight AfroBasket look.
An additional vital factor for the Silverbacks was Robinson Opong, who created his AfroBasket debut in 2017. A deadly a few-point shooter, Opong has showcased for Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers at the inaugural year of the Basketball Africa League.
Growing Star: Arthur Kaluma desired no far more than a activity to make his introduction to Ugandan basketball lovers.
The 19-calendar year-old performed a enormous purpose aiding the Silverbacks defeat Morocco 77-65 past month, a triumph that ensured Uganda a spot in the 16-nation AfroBasket 2021.
Arthur Kaluma (15)
Kaluma arrived off the bench to complete with a game-best 20 points, grabbed 5 rebounds as Uganda ended Morocco’s hopes of retuning to the African basketball competition for an eleventh straight time.
Head coach: American George Galanopoulos built his debut at the helm of Uganda at FIBA AfroBasket 2017, a levels of competition they completed -3.
He returned for the FIBA Basketball Planet Cup African Qualifiers 2019 and has steered the ‘Silverbacks’ to a productive Qualifiers marketing campaign.
George Galanopoulos
What the head coach of NBA G-League’s Texas Legends and technological bench have accomplished lately presents Ugandans hope.
Outlook: Uganda have won only one particular AfroBasket game out of seven.
Again in 2015, the East Africans defeated Zimbabwe 72-64 in the Classification Round to complete 15th.
As remarkable as Uganda were in the Qualifiers, the truth is that they experience an uphill endeavor going up Cameroon, Senegal and South Sudan in Group D in Kigali.
But if Opong Wainright, knowledgeable Jimmy Enabu are healthful and offered for the Championship, this crew could lead to some upset along the way.
FIBA
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