SLOVAKIA’S national basketball team ensured that Ireland ended its 2008 European Championship basketball qualifying series on a low note last weekend.
The Slovakians edged out Ireland on a narrow scoreline of 95–88, but Ireland’s playermanager Jay Larranaga said that the 2008 qualifying campaign had been a “positive” one, and that he’s looking forward to next year’s second series of encounters.
The Division B Group C clash reached a thrilling climax at the National Baskeball Arena in Tallaght, south Dublin, when Larranaga sunk a three in the dying seconds to send the contest into overtime.
However, it was the visitors who held their nerve in front of a passionate home support to deny Ireland victory.
“It’s obviously very frustrating and we are a bit annoyed with ourselves that we didn’t manage to close the game off,” said Larranaga, an Irish- American. “You have to give [Slovakia] a lot of credit, they managed to hold their nerve and they showed they are a quality bunch of players.”
The second series of matches take place in 2009 and Larranaga is hopeful that the time the Irish side spent together this season will stand them in good stead.
“We have seen a lot of good things over the six weeks,” explained Larranaga. “Some of the domestic players, including the likes of Colin O’Reilly and Ian O’Boyle, really impressed me and will have gained plenty of experience from the time they spent in the international games.
“If we can get a couple of big guys into the squad then we do have a chance of making an impact next year. It’s been a great experience for me in my first season as Irish coach and I have been delighted with how my players have responded.”
But Irish shooting guard Donnie McGrath said the team were still reeling after the Slovakia loss.
“We had a good crowd behind us and I’m disappointed we couldn’t have got them a win,” said McGrath. “We missed a couple of baskets at crucial stages and I should have put one or two away.
“It’s been a positive campaign but we must look forward now and hope the luck starts coming our way next year. Hr added: “It’s agonising to lose like that but we have to put it behind us now and take the good from what has been an exciting journey.”
Ireland and Slovakia are grouped with Luxembourg, Georgia and Sweden. So far Ireland have recorded one victory (away to Luxembourg).
