Friday 10 09 2021
Photo credit: Christopher Cox Photography
Team UWS returned to live action on the basketball court on Thursday, taking on the USA Select Blue Team at the Emirates Arena.
In their first match since March 2020, the UWS select team were beaten 86-84 at the conclusion of an enthralling match. The closed doors game was broadcast on UWS social media channels.
The match came before Glasgow Rocks took on the USA Select Red Team later that evening, with the Glasgow Rocks winning the game 95-78.
The Rocks Team is led by Captain, Jonny Bunyan, who graduated last week from UWS with a first class honours degree in Sport Development. Alastair Fraser (player), Sean Skelly (General Manager) and Sean Davidson (Assistant Coach) are also all UWS Graduates.
The game was the first competitive outing for Team UWS since early 2020. The UWS Select playing squad featured new and returning UWS students, alumni and guest players from the Renfrew Rocks club.
It was always going to be a tough game against a touring side who have played a number of games together. The teams were closely matched throughout the game, with the USA Select visitors managing to secure the win in the closing seconds.
Team UWS Select were coached and led by UWS Sports President, Johnathan MacLeod. He said after the game: “It was a great effort from the team tonight, providing us with some excellent preparation ahead of an exciting season. After so long away from competitive action, the guys bounced back well and it’s fantastic to mark the return of sport at UWS."
Credit must go to the players before us and Team UWS for their support in getting the programme to a position of competing in such a fixture.
UWS Sports President, Johnathan MacLeod
The fixture was facilitated through UWS’s strategic partnership with Glasgow Rocks Professional Basketball Team. Which, since 2017, has seen UWS students combine playing for the team in the British Basketball League with their studies.
The Rocks are also proactive in supporting the Team UWS Basketball Team and have hosted student placements across a range of areas involving students studying sport, events and creative industries strength and conditioning and media, as well as contributing to the delivery of modules.
Ciaran O’Brien, Head of Sport, said: “It was fantastic to see Team UWS back in action on their return to the basketball court on Thursday for the first time since the pandemic. All of our Team UWS sport clubs are prepared for the coming academic year and looking forward to engaging new and returning students in this vibrant and active community. This game has been a great start to the campaign."
It is our strong links with Glasgow Rocks which made this exciting match in a fantastic venue a possibility. It’s been a great experience for Team UWS and we look forward to working further with them over the coming year.
Ciaran O’Brien, Head of Sport
For more information on Team Sport, Scholarships and the Gym and Fitness at UWS, click here and for more details on joining a team or getting involved, sign up for information here. Any enquires can be directed to sport.enquiry@uws.ac.uk.