WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 12 ‘Our job is not yet done’ Bahrain head coach Sam Vincent talks about how qualifying for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 is just the first of many steps in the greater scheme of raising the level of Bahrain basketball; the Kingdom’s potential on the game’s international stage despite being one of the smaller countries in Asia; and the national team’s goals in their upcoming tournaments ‘Hefty’ challenge the national team’s staff— has been the Coach Sam Vincent driving force of Bahrain’s rise on the outlines• four major steps for For the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup, world ranking. That’s what I’m excited Coach Vincent has set a target of reach- “When we play a country where they Bahrain as it looks to build about: can I actually take ing the semi-finals—a challenge he ad- have millions [in population], I consider on recent success in FIBA Bahrain to the final four mits is “hefty” for Bahrain considering it a pretty major achievement to win Asia Cup 2021 qualifying the plethora of talent in Asian basket- those games. We go into most games of FIBA Asia? Out of all my ball—but he is determined to have the as the underdogs. In population we’re basketball challenges and national team strive for that plateau. smaller and we have less international • Bahrain to target for everything I’ve done; this is “That’s a pretty hefty goal, but it’s experience, but we fight and that’s what semi-finals in continental the one I’m embracing with something that I’ve set as my target, I’m trying to encourage the guys [on], showcase this August, and two hands to really accept something I want the guys to strive for,” to learn how to stay tough and fight then to go all out to capture the challenge. Can it be he explains. “That’s what I’m excited hard. done? I believe that we do about: can I actually take Bahrain to “And it doesn’t matter if it’s in sports elusive first GCC senior the final four of FIBA Asia? Out of all my or if it’s some other career path. These men’s title in December have some strong pieces in basketball challenges and everything skills that they learn are transferable to place I’ve done; this is the one I’m embrac- other areas that are going to be impor- ing with two hands to really accept tant as they leave sports and get into Bahrain rise six places Coach Sam Vincent COACH SAM VINCENT to• 101st on latest edition the challenge. Can it be done? I believe other areas. I think our guys are doing perform. and guard Mustafa Hussain, to name that we do have some strong pieces in that and so far they’re doing a pretty of FIBA World Ranking, “The next part is the actual perfor- a few. place.” good job.” released yesterday by global mance at the [FIBA Asia Cup], taking Both Muzamil and Mustafa are al- The 57-year-old tactician says that basketball’s governing body that preparation and taking that con- ready with schools in the United States the Kingdom’s internationals have al- GCC championship fidence, actually going into Jakarta where they are able to improve their ready been able to show what they Aside from the FIBA Asia Cup, Coach TDT | Manama and executing on all the things that we basketball prowess as student-athletes. can do against more heavily favoured Vincent also has his sights set on the worked on… and the fourth and final “I definitely feel like there are a cou- opponents. In their FIBA Asia Cup qual- GCC championship at the end of the piece is, after building this momentum ple of very solid legs in place,” Coach ifying group alone, Bahrain were the year and leading Bahrain to that elusive ahrain may have successfully and having this success, creating a pro- Vincent says. “Mazamil is a very strong lowest-ranked team. first-ever Gulf title at the senior level. qualified for the continent’s big- gramme that can sustain it and move candidate. He is a very good player and In the FIBA World Ranking, released “I think it’s pretty unfortunate that Bgest basketball competition held forward.” he’ll have a chance to play collegiate yesterday by the sport’s global govern- Bahrain has never won the GCC,” he just once every four years, but the job basketball in the US. Time depends on ing body, the Bahrainis had risen six says. “When I look at what I’m trying is not done and there are bigger goals Sustained development how hard he works and where he goes, places to 101st after previously being to accomplish—the final four of the that must be targetted for the overall Coach Vincent stresses on the impor- but he’s very talented. ranked 107th. Asia Cup is primary, but then there benefit of the game in the Kingdom, tance of further pushing for a higher “Mustafa is also now in the US and Despite this, Bahrain are still behind is the World Cup [qualifying] that we says national team head coach and 1986 level of basketball both in the local he’s playing, growing and gaining more qualifier opponents Lebanon (59th), were invited to as well—out of both of NBA champion Sam Vincent. game and for the national team, with experience. as well as India (76th) and Iraq (79th), those, winning the GCC is probably my Last month, the Bahrainis closed out the aim of one day being regarded “When you look at the cornerstone both of whom they defeated in each of biggest target. their qualification bid for this year’s amongst basketball’s powerhouses in of those guys, there is a good founda- their respective meetings. “This is going to be a pretty impor- FIBA Asia Cup in style, finishing their all of Asia. tion of youth now getting exposure “This is a clear indication of how big tant next seven, eight, nine months group campaign with a 4-2 win-loss “It’s not a matter of putting all this outside. Maybe you need to find one or our victories were because we’re beat- for basketball in Bahrain. If we can record, which included wins against hard work, time, effort, energy into two more, but I think you have a good ing teams that are ranked much higher accomplish some of the things that India and Iraq—both bigger and more something like a roller coaster that foundation in place, and you just need than us,” says Vincent, whose guidance we’re striving for, I think we could get experienced teams who are classified goes all the way up and then the next to continue to build on it.” and leadership—along with the work of recognition and maybe more support.” much higher than Bahrain on the FIBA day comes all the way down; it’s got World Ranking. to be sustained,” he says. “There’s Coach Vincent now hopes that na- got to be development programmes tionals can ride their momentum from in place, scouting of the next genera- BETTER their qualifiers’ success into other tion of top players, and collegiate de- much greater achievements, which velopment opportunities for kids to would help in the long run for the con- go overseas and play. It’s got to be a KNOW tinued overall development of basket- system and to me those are the four ball in Bahrain. parts. “One part of the job is done,” says “We’ve only taken care of the first Coach Vincent, a former point guard part. It’s a complete vision of taking it James Samuel Vincent was who won an NBA title with the Boston from where it currently is to a much a former point guard in Celtics playing alongside basketball leg- higher elevated level to where Bah- the NBA. He played seven ends such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, rain can be recognised in the world years in the league and Robert Parish, Bill Walton and others. as a strong basketball country that’s “There are three or four parts: the competitive internationally, but also won an NBA title as a rook- first part was securing the invitation developing good-level talents that are ie in 1986 with the Boston to the tournament, which we’ve done playing around the world.” Celtics, where he teamed now. The next part is having a real up with the likes of Larry top-notch training camp programme in Cornerstones Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert place so that we can go and get our guys Coach Vincent is excited to see that Parish, Bill Walton, Dennis in great shape, really fit, and compete there are already a number of young Johnson, Danny Ainge and against some real strong competition players in the Kingdom who are the so that we can get our confidence on cornerstones of the future, such as na- Rick Carlisle Bahrain guard Hesham Sarhan in action for the national team in the recently concluded FIBA Asia another level and be able to go out and tional team forward Muzamil Ameer Cup 2021 qualifiers Holders Ahli to face Muharraq in Khalifa bin Salman Cup quarters Cup in basketball. liminary round and are through in the semi-finals. Tournament draw The draw for the single-elim- straight to the last eight. Ma - On the opposite side of the • ination competition was held nama and Riffa have also been bracket, Al Hala take on Isa held last night, as yesterday at the Zain Basketball awarded this privilege, and are Town and Nuwaidrat face Manama take on Riffa in Arena in Um Al Hassam.