Giant mistake to write off Eagles, says old boy
RIVAL COACH HAILS CLUB LEGENDS
ONE of the founding fathers of BBL basketball in Newcastle is refusing to write off the Eagles’ bid for silverware this season.
And Ploutos Vourliotis pointed to the ever-reliable Darius Defoe as an example of the club’s never-say-die attitude and potential to win big when it matters most.
Vourliotis joined Newcastle Comets in 1995 just weeks after the North East’s top-flight franchise moved north of the Tyne for the first time.
And Manchester Giants’ assistant coach returns to the city this Friday full of praise for a club that’s still close to his heart.
“Newcastle will bounce back,” insisted Vourliotis as the Giants bid to make it six losses on the bounce for Ian MacLeod’s men.
“It’s a long season and there’s still plenty to play for.
“They’ve had a few setbacks but you can never write off a team like Newcastle. It would be foolish to take for granted any team that includes Rahmon Fletcher and Darius Defoe. We’re talking about two of the best players the BBL has ever seen.
“On paper Newcastle still have a fantastic squad and they’re more than capable of reaching the BBL Play-Off final.
“The Eagles might win some games and lose some games but they’ll always be a team that every other club in this league must guard against.”
V our li otis played 32 matches in a Newcastle vest during the 1995/96 campaign after winning the league with Sheffield the previous season.
The then 26-year-old averaged 10 points and four rebounds a game for Dave Elderkin’s Comets – rebranded as the Eagles the following year. And as one of the BBL’s most consistent forwards during the mid-90s, former England international Vourliotis is a big fan of league stalwart Defoe.
“I’ve been very, very impressed with Darius since I’ve returned to the league with the Giants,” he added. “It looks like he’s playing more minutes than coach MacLeod maybe imagined but if that’s the case then I take my hat off to the guy. “He looks fresher than ever and the way that he uses his experience to get inside the heads of his opponents is great to see. I love it!
“I just hope he doesn’t do a job on our players this weekend.”
Vourliotis linked up with his hometown Giants two seasons ago after being heavily involved with Manchester’s Magic and Mystics.
And the 52-year-old has emerged as a key member of head coach Lloyd Gardner’s backroom staff.
“Coach Lloyd is amazing to work with and I just love being on the floor with him and the guys every week,” added Vourliotis.
“It’s a fantastic learning experience for me. There’s a great balance and a great team chemistry this season.”
Vourliotis experienced top-flight basketball in Newcastle in its infancy 25 years ago but he returns to Tyneside with the franchise firmly established as the BBL’s best ever.
“It was the start of something special even if we didn’t realise it at the time,” he said.