After two away matches our team is coming back to Gdynia to face off against the runner up of the League table - Legia Warszawa. Will we finally be able to get our first win this year?
Legia is led by coach Wojciech Kaminski and is one of the biggest contenders in the Energa Basket Liga. Mid through the regular round their score looks quite impressive - 12-3 - even though few would consider them to be likely to win during the pre season predictions. Only Enea Zastal BC Zielona Gora is ahead of them. It is worthy of mention that they have lost their biggest asset - US player Justin Bibbins (18.5 point, 7 assists) and also Michal Sokolowski (12.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal). Both have been bought out by teams in France. This had its effect on the scores.
Jamel Morris (17.1 points, 3.3 rebounds) has his time to shine with Bibbins gone. THe 28-year old has grown up to be the best shooter in the League. He played in 21 matches and only twice fell below 10-points per match. Jakub Karolak (13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1 steal) needs no introduction, whom we remember in Gdynia during the quarterfinals of the 2018/19 season. It was then that the Polish swingman was the leader of his team and thanks to his impressive skills Legia managed to win in front of their crowd twice, leading to a 2:2 tie.
The team from the capitol also has a duo of playmakers: Lester Medford (12.8 points, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals) and Nickolas Neal (12.6 points, 3.2 assists). Both started out this season while in different teams. Medford played for Pszczolka Start Lublin while Neal played for HydroTruck Radom. Grzegorz Kulka (7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds) showed his good side with his return from a year-long break in the ekstraklasa. Dariusz Wyce (7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1 block) is a force to be still reckoned with, who in the previous match against Anwil Wloclawek was the deciding factor. In a key moment he blocked and then followed that up with two 3-pointers. The popular "Bowmen of Bolestraszyce" is one of the lead players in terms of blocks and rebounds.
The opposing team, with an average of 40, is way ahead of Gdynia in terms of rebounds. Legia is also strong in terms of long range throws and free throw accuracy. The yellow-and-blues will have to concentrate on fighting in the front- and back-courts and refrain from fauls. Much will hang on the newest player, Croatian Karlo Vragovic.
How will coach Piotr Blechacz and his team deal with their opponent? The match will take place on the 23rd of January (Saturday) at Gdynia Arena. The match will be available for viewing on Emocje TV at 20:00.
