The Manchester Magic have announced the signing of form junior Loick Pouale and the return of Richard Bell.

Pouale returns to the Magic after spells at Lancashire Spinners and Leeds Force. He averaged 16.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game in 21 games for the Spinners in a difficult season in NBL Division One for the Bury based side, who having been relegated hit difficulties and have withdrawn the team from the league this season.

Bell has already suited up for the Magic this season, playing a key role in the National Trophy game against Team Newcastle, the club are delighted to retain his services for the 2018-19 season. In 10 games for the Magic last season Bell averaged 10.8 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game.

Magic Head Coach Aurimas Verbukas commented, “I am very happy with signings of Loick and Richard. It is great to see Loick returning after a few years away from his home team and Richard joining us again and will provide much needed size and inside presence.”

The Magic also announced that Joshua Davenport has returned home to the States after an assessment by medical staff showed the extent of a knee injury meant he would be unable to participate for a large part of the season, the player and club agreed it best that he return home to continue his rehabilitation.

Coach Verbukas said, “It is disappointing to see Joshua going as I believed he could be one of the best players in this league. But it is more important he recovers from his injury and that he will be healthy for years to come.”

Manchester Magic Senior men’s pre-season schedule is complete. On the surface, a 0-4 record doesn’t read well. Let’s take a closer look at what positives there have been and what lessons can be learned heading into the first game of the season on Saturday, where the Magic take on Team Newcastle in the National Trophy at the Manchester Basketball Centre at 6:30pm.

Magic’s opening game was against USA Select, a 63-69 loss. The home side were missing their imports who at the time were awaiting their VISAs. The Magic were also without Ali Sbai who has missed all the pre-season games through injury.

The Magic line-up against the USA Select included four 16 year olds in Luke Gordos, Jason Ani, Daniel Gargan and Noah Tchifounga, combined they played 46 of the 200 minutes available (23% of the total team’s minutes, or nearly a quarter of basketball, 50 minutes).

Kaphel Ulett-Waul led the way with 21 points, scoring 4 from 6 three pointers. Kayin Darbey has 12 points, scoring 6 from 9 from the field. Josh Houghton had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Luke Gordos had 8 points and was voted by fans on twitter as the team’s MVP.

An area of concern would be the team’s three-point percentage of 25.7% making 9 from 35 attempts, perhaps this can be put down to shaking off the rust. The team were out rebounded 51 to 39. The Magic had 5 shot attempts blocked. The turnover count was 18 for the Magic to 21 for the visitors.

Next the Magic faced a trip to Liverpool, where they lost a close game 97-93 to the Division two side, who turned down the opportunity to play in Division one after Team Northumbria withdrew from the league. That place was afforded to Essex Leopards as the next highest ranked team in Division two from last season.

Both of Magic’s Americans, Jonathan Barnes and Joshua Davenport, arrived in the days prior to the game. Barnes played and showed glimpses of what he will bring to the team. Davenport’s impact was restricted by an injured quad restricting his movement, playing limited minutes before sitting out the remainder of the contest and didn’t get a real opportunity to show what he can do; his sat out both games of the battle of Manchester.

The game saw Magic play three 16 year olds, debuts for Malachi Boakye-Yiadom, who joined the club over the summer from London Thunder and Saul May, who was a team mate of Malachi’s for Great Britain at the U16 European Championships this summer, while Luke Gordos played his second senior game.

The very next day saw the battle of Manchester game one with the Magic against what looks like a much-improved Giants side in their previous pre-season games. The Giants had five former Magic players on their roster, James Jones, Callum Jones, Ryan Lewis, Adam Oldham and Bailey Goodall.

The Magic stayed in the contest until late on the game where the Giants open up an unassailable lead, the game ended 86-60 to the Giants.

The Magic were led by Kaphel Ulett-Waul who scored 14 points, Daniel Pilkington had 13 points, Andre Gayle had 9 points, Jonathan Barnes and Saul May both had 6 points, Richard Bell had 5 points, Kayin Darbey 3 points, Josh Houghton who picked up a knock during the game had 2 points and Malachi Boakye-Yiadom had 2 points.

Game two at the Manchester Basketball Centre was another close contest throughout the first three and a bit quarters with the Giants opening up another sizeable lead in the latter stages to take a 97-80 victory and win the battle of Manchester series 2-0.

Magic were led again by Kaphel Ulett-Waul who had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Andre Gayle had 12 points, 7 rebounds an assist and 2 steals. Josh Houghton had 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Richard Bell had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Daniel Pilkington has 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Jonathan Barnes has 8 points, 6 rebounds, an assist and a block. Malachi Boakw-Yiadom had 6 points and an assist and Luke Gordos had 4 points, 4 rebounds and an assist.

Both games served as a stellar test for the Magic team, flagging up a couple of areas for improvement, as the Magic were out rebounded 47 to 43, committed four more turnover 20 to 16 and were blocked 8 times to blocking on one Giants’ shot.

A pleasing stat for the coaches will be points off the bench, 32 to 22 in Magic’s favour, showing strength in depth especially considering the four 16 years olds on the bench for the game (Luke Gordos, Saul May, Malachi Boakye-Yiadom and Daniel Gargan). Another pleasing stat for the coaches will be the scoring runs, the Giants biggest scoring run was 8 points, the Magic’s was 7 points.

Coach Verbukas will make a decision on the 16 year olds involved as to whether they have shown enough promise to earn a spot on the roster for the NBL season ahead. Their availability will depend on what is deemed best for the development, as they will play for the Magic’s under 18 side this season alongside the senior team duties.

It’s been a tough start for Coach Verbukas’ side, playing in four games that provided stern tests for a Magic team full of new faces getting to know each other. It will take some time for the team to gel and with the first National Trophy game on Saturday they haven’t got long to find a winning formula to start the competitive campaign off with that desired victory.

Manchester Magic Head Coach Aurimas Verbukas has named Daniel Pilkington as team captain and Josh Houghton as vice-captain for the 2018-19 NBL Division One season.

Daniel is delighted to be named as captain of the club’s senior team having developed his game as a junior at the club as he explains, “It’s great to be named captain of the club I developed in for many years, and do it alongside a good mate is an added bonus too.

“I speak to coach a lot about practice, games and where we are looking to take the team, and every time we speak he’s so passionate and driven, and that shows in games too. Coach Ollie is great for the club and great for us as a team. 

“We are a brand new team, but from the older lads (Josh, Kaphel and I) all the way down to the 16 year olds, there is a real buzz in the club. 

“I’m excited to see what we can do this season, we are young and hungry and that’s perfect for me as one of the leaders of the team, I’ll be trying to lead by example and use my voice as much as possible. 

“With Josh, he truly has one of the highest basketball IQs I’ve played with, he’s been that way since we were 15, so to have that leadership as well I’m hoping we make a good partnership going forward and be able to lead the team as best we can.” 

Coach Verbukas has been impressed with the leadership qualities the pair have brought to the team so far in practice and in the pre-season games, he commented, “Daniel is a player that’s able to make big plays on the court and lead by example in the dressing room.

“We have a player that is going to be able to be tough enough to stick with the team when times get tough. Daniel is a great character and player who will lead this team on and off the court.

“I think everyone at the club is excited and supporting this team 100%, Daniel is a good role model for our younger players. He and Co-Captain Joshua Houghton are the kind of leaders that young players should look up to.”

Let’s find out a little more about new team captain Daniel Pilkington, we sat down with him for a Q&A

Who is your favourite sports person? 

LeBron James & Conor McGregor

What are three reasons you like being part of sports? 

1) The challenges/opportunities

2) Stay fit and health

3) I love competition

What is the best part about competing?

Winning, I especially like winning when I hear people say we have no chance. 

What is your favourite sports quote?

“I don’t complain about playing time… MY JOB is to play so well that the coach can’t sit me”

What emotions do you feel when you play well?

Regardless of personal performance, if the team wins, I’m happy. I can’t celebrate a good personal performance if we get beat.

What is your favourite song to listen to prior to competing?

Recently my go to song is Kygo – Cut Your Teeth… but before that I’d listen to Trivium – In Waves

What is your favourite movie about sports?

Space Jam

Who was your favourite coach and why?

Graham [Williams] and Joe [Forber] my Magic Youth Coaches because they were the ones who made me believe in my potential and exposed it, without them I wouldn’t be playing today. 

Do you think attitude is a factor in winning?

100%, even if there is one bad attitude in a locker room, that can massively bring others down. 

What one word describes you?

Ambitious

Manchester Magic Junior Luke Gordos was voted game MVP by the fans on twitter after impressing during pre-season friendly against USA Select on Tuesday evening at the Manchester Basketball Centre.

The 16 year old joined the senior team practises this off-season off the back of an impressive display for Wales U16s at the FIBA Division C European Championships this summer. Gordos lead Wales all the way to the final, where they came undone by Andorra to finish with the silver medal.

We spoke to Luke about his performance against USA Select and to get his thoughts on joining up with the senior team, here’s what he had to say.

Luke, Congratulations for being voted the first MVP of the season. What are your thoughts about the game?

“It was tough to lose such a close game to USA Select. They are a tough team with [NCAA] Division One players and athletes so it is very good preparations for the season.

“Although we lost, I think our team played with heart and intensity and we are looking a lot better than we were at the start of the off season.

“We had some very good contributions from players like Kaphel [Ulett-Waul] and Kayin [Darbey] and I think this team has a lot of potential for the upcoming season and we are only getting stronger.”

You have just turned 16 years old, how are you finding it playing/training with/against senior players who are much bigger and stronger?

“To practice and play for the Division One Men is an honour, and I think the other juniors would say the same.

“It has been tough at times but I am now gaining more confidence in practises and games and I know in the long term it is very beneficial for my development.”

How will that help your development?

“I think that playing for the Division One Men is very beneficial towards my development.

“It is helping me learn the game from the seniors and I love getting as much information as possible from them.

“It is helping me learn the style of play, when to do things and when not to do things which will only speed up my development as it is a much more physically demanding and mentally demanding game of basketball.”

Coach Ollie (Aurimas Verbukas) commented, “Luke is a great character and hard working young men. His work ethic is something that all should use as an example.

“There is a lot of room for improvement, but he is moving in the right direction.

“He is pure point guard with a pass-first mentality, he has great potential to become a very good player if he continues to improve and learn from his older and more experienced team-mates.”

The Magic continue their pre-season preparations with two away games this weekend with a trip to Division two side, Liverpool on Saturday (at 5:30pm) and part one of the battle of Manchester as the Magic face the Giants at the Trafford PowerLeague Arena on Sunday (at 5:00pm).

And don’t forget the Magic face the Giants at home on Tuesday 18th September at 8:00pm for part two of the battle of Manchester.