Owumi aims for first win (From Worcester News)

Owumi aims for first win

1:00pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

NEW signing Alex Owumi is ready to help Worcester Wolves get off the mark in the British Basketball League.

The University of Worcester -based side face two games in 24 hours as they prepare to bounce back from the opening-day 82-76 defeat to Durham Wildcats.

Wolves visit reigning champions Newcastle Eagles tomorrow night (7.30pm) before returning to host the Manchester Giants on Saturday (7pm).

Owumi, one of four players recruited by coach Paul James during the summer, top-scored for Worcester with 24 points against the Wildcats and he believes, with a few adjustments, they can succeed in both matches.

He said: “There’s very high expectations this year.

“We have a really good team but need to get our defensive chemistry right. Offensively, we are great but our defence has to get better.

“In the first game against Durham I had only been here a week so, playing point guard, I had to get to know everybody’s game and in a week that’s hard but we’ll get it right.

"Anything can happen in basketball but if we can get our defensive rotation sorted in the fourth quarter, which is most important, we can come out with a win tomorrow and then get our first victory at home.”

The 27-year-old Nigerian-born American, who stands 6ft 5ins, is looking forward to linking up with compatriots Sherrad Prezzie-Blue and Stan Ocitti, another summer addition along with Stuart Thomson and Arturas Masiulis.

“Sherrad persuaded me to come here,” added Owumi, named on the bench for the BBL’s first team of the week.

“I’ve known him for seven or eight years and he told me Stan, who I know from back home in Boston, was joining so I knew it was going to be a nice little trio.

“We have a very talented team, certainly as far as veterans go. This is my fifth year playing, Stan’s ninth and Sherrad knows the league pretty well.”

However, playmaker Prezzie-Blue is still waiting for a work permit and looks set to be missing until Wolves host Mersey Tigers on Saturday, October 13.

“It’s more red tape and a bit of a waiting game now,” director of basketball James said.

“If we can get a couple of wins while he’s away, it’s going to be a great boost for the team once he does arrive.”

He added: “It’s unbelievably frustrating but I’ve got to concentrate on the players who are here.”