The Summerside Storm and Oshawa Power will clash in a rare Sunday afternoon contest at Eastlink Arena. The opening tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
It will mark only the second of four regular-season meetings between the two teams, with the Power winning the first 105-97.
“We haven’t seen them (Power) since early November,” said Storm head coach Joe Salerno. “They are the third team in the league with a winning record. They are tough.”
The Atlantic Division-leading Storm took a five-game winning streak and a 14-9 (won-lost) record into Friday night’s home game against the Montreal Jazz. Meanwhile, the Power went into Friday night’s game in Saint John with a 13-10 resumé in the National Basketball League of Canada.
The Storm started a stretch of three games in four days with a 112-104 road win over the Saint John Mill Rats on Thursday night.
Salerno described the Power as a “very athletic” team. The game will also mark the first time recently-acquired Storm players Brandon Robinson and Omari Johnson will play against the team they played on last season.
Robinson, who started the season with the Halifax Rainmen, said he’s treating the matchup with Oshawa no different than any other game.
“We haven’t seen them (Power) since early November. They are the third team in the league with a winning record. They are tough.” - Storm head coach Joe Salerno
“I’ve played them once before when I was in Halifax,” said Robinson. “It’s just another game to me.
“I don’t have anything to prove to anybody. I just want to see us get the W (win) at the end of the game.”
Salerno admitted the recent 10-day break from game action allowed the Storm a chance to get in some quality practices, and allow the relative newcomers a chance to become familiar with their teammates.
“Especially Omari, he came in before Christmas Eve and he only had two or three practices before the first four games he played,” said Salerno. “He’s feeling a lot more comfortable, which is great, and you are starting to see some more chemistry as the guys have had some time playing together.
“Once we get that team chemistry down, I really think we have the talent to win the title. I really do believe that.
“It’s trying to put that talent together, have them all play together and we’re certainly taking steps toward that.”
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