Opening Night Preview - Lions v Westside
QF2 - London Lions v London Westside - Tip-Off 8.10pm - Tuesday 16th July
Buy tickets for the London Summer League Opening Night
After taking a close season break in June, London Westside's players returned to training at the start of this month. The squad will have been pushing that bit harder in practice knowing that they were preparing for an epic encounter, after being paired against the BBL's London Lions in the London Summer League draw.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams and the first time that Westside have faced opponents from the BBL. Coach Frank Lamptey is not in anyway daunted "We are definitely excited about playing Lions and looking forward to the (London Summer League) tournament it's going to be fun."
Westside's team roster sees most of their EBL team return from last season and they have added some quality and experience with England international Pierre Henry-Fontaine and Walid Mumuni. 6'5" swingman Mumuni has appeared in the BBL for London United, London Capitals and Essex Pirates and last season played in Sicily for Basket Cefalù.
Lions will be using London Summer League as a warm-up to what will be the (and possibly London basketball's) most important season in their history. They are moving into the 7,000 seat Copper Box in the old Olympic Park becoming the first club to move into a former Olympic venue and the first London basketball club for decades to be a primary tenant at a major arena.
With Lions' opening game at the "Box that Rocks" just a month away (against Iowa University on the 14th August) they will field a roster of established players and trialists. Veteran England internationals guard Perry Lawson and forwards Julius Joseph and Mike Martin will lead the Lions' squad, whilst the likes of 6'10" centre Chris Taiwah will be looking to impress.
On paper Lions should have too much for a team who play two divisions below them but will not be taking their West London opponents for granted.
The winners/losers of this game will meet Capitals or Storm from Quarter Final 1 in the Semi Finals/Plate Semi Finals.
The full Opening Night Schedule is as follows:
QF4: Tip-Off - 19.30 - London Lituanica v Westminster Warriors
QF2: Tip-Off - 20.10 - London Lions v London Westside
QF3: Tip-Off - 20.50 - Medway Park Crusaders v LSBU Brixton Topcats
QF1: Tip-Off - 21.30 - London Capitals v Hemel Storm
Buy tickets for the London Summer League Opening Night
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