Since end of last week, the OPEL SKYLINERS have been preparing for the upcoming season at their training camp in Treviso, Italy. It is not just about practising hard. During training sessions, head coach Gordon Herbert has been trying out a number of exercises in order for him to obtain in-depth knowledge of the team as a whole and for the team to get to know each other better and develop a good understanding of one another.
It is the first time, after the World Championships, that the whole team has come together. Pascal Roller and Robert Maras, who played for the German national team at the World Championships, joined the team after only a short brake and a few days off. As any other team member, they are highly motivated and looking forward to the upcoming season.
The OPEL SKYLINERS will play a number of games against Italian teams, which are actually much further as far as pre-season preparation is concerned, as the basketball season in Italy already starts next Sunday.
Against Triest, a team which ranked fifth in the Italian league last season, our team lost only by a narrow margin with a final score of 81:78, after leading the game at half time by 40:48.
Gordon Herbert after the Triest game: "There are many positive and promising aspects, we could observed during the game. After only one week of practice, we played a real good game and were able to stand up against a strong opponent by playing with much energy and fighting spirit."
Coming weekend, the team is returning to Frankfurt and will immediately start getting prepared and practising for their next test in front of their home audience and fans, on Tuesday, September 24th. The game against first league opponent Avitos Gie?en will take place at the Eichwaldhallen in Sulzbach. It has been organised as a charity event in favour of the Hans-Thomas-School for learning aid and handicapped.
