Glenn Temmerman feels liberated since the departure of Trevor Blondin, according to sporting manager Anthony Mallego. — © Gregory Van Gansen
Basketball Elite Silver: Okapi Aalst – Kortrijk Spurs (Saturday at 8:30 PM)
Aalst –
After three consecutive victories, Okapi Aalst suffered a first defeat in Elite Silver in the Leuven Sportoase. Kortrijk Spurs will visit the Forum on Saturday, where Okapi will defend his last chances for the play-offs, which could spice up a substandard season.
Sporting manager Anthony Mallego still sees opportunities for the play-offs after the defeat in Leuven. “Leuven Bears has been our black beast on the move for several years now. We did quite well this time. We certainly performed well defensively. Offensively, we missed some easy baskets and made the wrong choice a few times. Don’t forget that we were playing against a team where Eddy Casteels is a defensively oriented coach at the helm. Leuven has a broader core and has five good foreigners, with the Americans Tate and Key being excellent shooters. Still, we gave a good response.”
“I also applaud the performance of Glenn Temmerman. With nine points, two rebounds and two assists, he contributed to a solid team performance. Glenn was also on the field for 27 minutes. Trevor Blondin’s departure gives him more space and has a liberating effect. Don’t forget that Temmerman is still very young. Last year he was crowned MVP at Charleroi after a brilliant performance. Two weeks later he suffered an injury to his abdominal muscles and a period of dull misery followed. In Leuven Glenn again showed his potential. We are resolutely taking the Belgian youth card. We do this for financial reasons to keep the budget in balance, but also because it is in line with the club’s vision. It is the path we have taken and which we want to continue on.”
Bull’s-eye
Okapi made some adjustments during the season. The two veterans who have returned to the old stable appear to be a bull’s eye. “Tito Casero arrived in Aalst as a rookie. In the meantime, Tito is a player with a lot of maturity, who knows how to position the basket offensively. Casero still has work to do defensively, but he fits well in the group and has a good mentality. We intend to continue with him. I am also satisfied with Pape Badji. With James Jean-Marie we were a bit small in stature. Pape Badji, following Popovic’s example, throws more height and weight into the balance.”
Mallego saw the balance between Belgium and the Netherlands restored. “Yoast United won in Brussels, Feyenoord beat Mechelen and Den Helder beat Kortrijk. It gives our victories a little more shine, but above all it means that the Netherlands has now kept up with Belgium, after being laughed at with its weak teams three years ago.”