Basi is ready to tame the Lions’ threat

NEWCASTLE Eagles’ rookie AJ Basi may be new to the BBL Championship - but he is in no doubt about how tough tonight’s game against London Lions promises to be.

Basi recently left the Canadian college system after five years at Manitoba University and his steep learning curve continues with tonight’s clash at Sport Central.

The point guard said: “It is a huge game.

“It is still very early in the season but already this is a big game for us to face.

“We have had this one on our calendar ever since the O2 All-Stars tournament in London and with both teams also being unbeaten so far in the league it has a real feel of importance about it.

“Practice has gone well, we have just tweaked some things we needed to look at after the last two games, clean up our offence a little bit.

“I like the way our defence came along in the last win after the first two games. We need to build on that and we have started watching film on London.”

Basi (right) outlined what he sees as the key areas when the Eagles and Lions square up on court this evening (7.30 tip-off).

He added: “I think we have to make them play at our pace. They are one of the slower teams in the league.

“They like to play in the half-court and they have a very good point guard who wants to orchestrate and run the show, so we have to take them out of what their comfort zone is.

“After three games they look like they want to slow things down whereas we want to continue our up-tempo game and keep getting up and down, forcing the pace.”

Basi arrived in Newcastle almost unknown and is becoming aware of the huge difference between university and professional life.

He said: “It is still basketball but there is a lot of learning and a lot of adjusting on the fly.

“I am taking in different things every day and I am just trying to keep a healthy balance between learning and adapting but still trying to play my game.

“There is an incredible amount of talent around me, the most I have ever been involved with.

“I am just taking that opportunity to be better every day in practice and then hopefully putting that out there on the court.”