Momo preaches discipline, chemistry as Al Shorta still in search of a win
BAGHDAD (Iraq) - Lamont Jones finds himself in a situation far different from where he had been during the inaugural FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) competition.
BAGHDAD (Iraq) - Lamont Jones finds himself in a situation far different from where he had been during the inaugural FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) competition.
The veteran guard is winless in two games thus far with Al Shorta in Season 2, a spot that he's not familiar with after joining a Manama team midway through last season and helping a solid team become even better, as evidenced by their dramatic trip to the Gulf League Final.
"Discipline, togetherness, and seriousness -- I think if we have those three things, I think we have the makings of a very good team. And, I think we can make some noise even though we started out 0-2."
'Momo' witnessed from the sidelines, too, the Bahraini ball club's historic achievement in Dubai that saw them become the first-ever FIBA WASL champions after beating Kuwait Club.
"It's pretty tough," he lamented Thursday night moments after their 115-83 loss to Al Riyadi at the Al Shaeb Hall, which made them the lone team in Group B of the West Asia League yet to win. "I mean, last year, you know, winning and going all the way to the last day was pretty fun."
It's been a tough ride for Jones and Al Shorta in FIBA WASL. Before suffering that harsh beatdown at the hands of the reigning sub-zone league champions, the squad failed to protect a nine-point lead and eventually bowed to a 74-70 decision to Al Wahda on the road.
The 33-year-old has been trying to do his part in helping the club win its first tilt. He had 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists against the Lebanese side, but those weren't enough.
Still, hope isn't lost on Al Shorta, despite this start. Jones believes that they will be much better prepared when they face both teams in the next half of the Group Phase after the holiday break.
"Most definitely," said the 10-year-old pro from New York, who has been averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, along with a steal, so far in Season 2.
He hopes, too, that by the time they'd figure in a rematch against those two, the whole team will be much more acclimatized with the system of new head coach Ghassan Sarkis.
"We just have to learn and get better, get used to Coach here, Coach is a great basketball mind so I look forward to getting better and I know we'll be better when we come across these guys again."
But for them to be able to get win no. 1, Jones, known for his crucial leadership role in Manama, is hoping to see his squad become more tight-knit and disciplined if they are to do so.
"Just getting prepared, understanding that it's very tedious, it's very demanding," he said. "The teams that we play against, they scout, they watch films, they know who we are. Serious basketball is not just going out there and throwing the ball out and expecting you to just win the game."
"You actually have to do the work," Jones added. "Discipline, togetherness, and seriousness -- I think if we have those three things, I think we have the makings of a very good team. And, I think we can make some noise even though we started out 0-2."
FIBA