Bunten admits he has let his TN squad down
CHRIS Bunten has pledged to address his anger management after taking the blame for a 72-60 defeat to the Manchester Mystics.
The Team Northumbria playcaller was ejected from a feisty WBBL clash just three minutes from time and with TN trailing by four.
A frank Bunten admitted he owed his team an apology after he was told to leave the TN bench for an unspecified offence.
He said: “This is the first time I have been thrown out of a WBBL game and I am not proud of it.
“My players need me there down the stretch and I told them afterwards I would take the full responsibility for a tough defeat.
“I am not looking to make any excuses but all I would say is I have no idea why I was ejected.
“I asked the referees for an explanation but they refused to speak to me. I was told I had been ejected and that was that.”
TN’s eight-game winning streak suddenly seems a world away, Bunten’s injuryravaged roster slipping down the WBBL table.
However, the Commonwealth Gamesbound playcaller offered some hope a crippling injury list is finally easing. He added: “Hannah Shaw played 20 minutes in Manchester and eased herself back into competitive basketball,.
“That was good to see and a boost for everyone.
“Ali Gorrell and Kara Bonenberger are getting there and I would like to think Ali could feature at some point against Cardiff next Sunday.
“We have another big week coming up with the Stan Calvert Cup and I am just looking for positives.
“It has been a tough season for everyone but it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“By the time we host Sevenoaks on March 4 I would like to think we will have a full team out and we can be the first team to beat them this season.”