Niners On A Roll: The Unyielding Spirit of Chemnitz's Basketball Squad
Niners Chemnitz continued their impressive run with a 79-58 victory over Oldenburg, marking their 16th consecutive win across all competitions! They're now hot on the trail of Telekom Baskets Bonn, who set the record for 18 consecutive wins in the previous season.
Their success in Saxony's 'Manchester' isn't a stroke of luck - but the fruit of hard work.
The Blueprint of Niners' Unstoppable Run
"We've got a team full of 'blue-collar' types," Wesley van Beck (27) explains, "guys who really had to fight and grind to get where they are now. That mentality never changes. These are all guys who have internalized they always have something to prove."
DeAndre Lansdowne (34) found no club after university, resorting to bricklaying to make ends meet. Kevin Yebo (27) faced rejection at Hamburg Towers and returned to the 2nd division for a year. Top scorer van Beck funded his college and kicked off his professional career in Colombia.
"It's a blessing to be here," van Beck says. "In pro sports, it's rare to find an entire team committed to a goal above personal success. We're great at showing up everyday and trying to improve."
Yebo adds, "No one's ego's too big, and people embrace it when they hear they can do better. We're all good at communicating with each other."
Rolo Pastore's Influence
"He's our leader," van Beck describes Coach Rolo Pastore (51). "He comes in every day ready to work, with a certain expectation of high focus and intensity. We have a head coach who holds everyone accountable, pushing us to improve every day."
Pastore took the reigns at Chemnitz in 2015 and led them to the 1st division. His dedication and high expectations have played a vital role in the team's development.
"Yes, it gets loud sometimes," Yebo admits. "But not because he has something against anyone. He sees something in you, your potential and how good you can be. It's never personal."
Defense as Foundation
Pastore preaches the importance of defense since the team's inception. Van Beck stresses, "If we can stop the opponents, our offense starts working accordingly. Our defensive success drives our offensive success."
The Niners even managed to keep going with only eight players in some games! Pastore's focus on defense has been instrumental in Chemnitz's improvement.
Looking Forward
The Niners' success story continues, driven by their unyielding spirit, strong team dynamics, and Rolo Pastore's leadership. Every day, they come to the court wanting to improve, no matter the challenges.
Other News:
- Despite their success, the Niners Chemnitz players, such as Wesley van Beck and Kevin Yebo, have faced significant challenges throughout their career.
- The team's secret to their success is their collective mentality, described as "blue-collar types," who are constantly driven by a need to prove themselves and improve.
- Coach Rolo Pastore, who's with the Niners since 2015, plays a significant role in maintaining the team's positive attitude and high work ethic. His expectations for focus and intensity have been instrumental in developing the team's strong defense, which has been vital to their success, even in the face of injuries.
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Enrichment Data:
- Despite their winning streak, the Niners have faced challenges in recent games, sometimes having to make do with as few as eight players. Pastor, the team's Argentinian head coach, has been instrumental in developing their hub-and-spoke offensive strategy and their defense-first mentality. In their recent game against the Rasta Vechta, the team managed to outplay their opponents, demonstrating the impact of their teamwork and past struggles.
