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Contact UsPromotions Cup 2002, Malta Maclean out for last hurrah
It took all the persuasive powers of Scotland coach Toni Szifris to lure veteran Iain Maclean out of international retirement for one final hurrah.
Yet with the Scots opening up their challenge for the European Promotions Cup in Malta on Tuesday, the 37 year old is once more the fulcrum of a youthful squad which begins its quest with a first-ever meeting with Albania.
The former Murray International star made his Scotland debut nearly twenty years ago but has spent the past season back in the amateur ranks as player-coach of St. Mirren. A new generation of hopefuls is confident of delivering continental success but Szifris believes Maclean is still central to his team’s chances.
“Having him back has to be a big advantage,” he said. “The leadership, the toughness, the experience all helps. In some games he might be the leading scorer still but that’s not what we’re looking for.
"He sets up good plays and he makes the younger players around him play to the best of their abilities. Five games in five days in 90 degrees heat will test a guy of his mature age so he’ll not be playing 40 minutes each time but there won’t be many who will do that.”
Albania represents the unknown quantity for Scotland in an opening round group which also features the hosts plus minnows San Marino.
“We really don’t know much about them,” Szifris admits. “They may not be one of the great Eastern European basketball nations but we can’t just write them off."
With group games against hosts Malta and San Marino to come, coach Toni Szifris admits that the draw has been kind for the early stages but he is confident that his team are ready for the challenges ahead.
“I’d like to win all the game but I feel the team will get better as the week goes on which has been typical of Scottish teams abroad.
“We have prepared really well and I don’t think we could have done more. We’ve been more like a club side than an international team. Getting together regularly has been a big help and we’ve played more meaningful games together than two years ago.”
Not all has been plain sailing as a poor showing against Wales in the Scots final warm-up illustrated.
The shooting woes of Edinburgh Rocks Keith Bunyan which saw the guard go 2 for 17 versus the Welsh is a major concern.
“Those shots are important," Szifris insists. "His shooting was something I didn’t expect but I don’t envisage it continuing. We’ve had a lot of discussion about these things and we won’t allow people to take these shots continuously if they aren’t going down.
"We’ll have to look for better shots and move it around."
However the form of his former Rocks team-mate James Steel has been a major plus.
"Steel is getting better by the minute. In the practice games, he’s been the top scorer but what’s more important is that his shot selection and passing is much better than before."
Scotland will gamble on the fitness of Rocks centre Stuart Mackay. The 6'10" pivot has been hampered by a swelling on his leg but Szifris is hopeful that he will play some part in Tuesday's opener.
"Hopefully as the week goes on, Stu will get better. I don't expect him to be 100% and I'll use him less than I would have liked. But his experience will still be valuable.
"Any player I bring off the bench can do an all-round job whereas previously we had bit-part players in the side.
“I’d like to win all the game but I feel the team will get better as the week goes on which has been typical of Scottish teams abroad."
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