Magic Heading to China for Pre-Season Tour
Published on August 24, 2018 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Moncton Magic News Release
(Moncton, New Brunswick) The Magic have announced today it has been invited and will be participating in a pre-season tour in China next month. Sports Management Unlimited, located in Beijing, China will be hosting and funding the two and half week trip, which will see the Magic playing 7-10 games against CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) teams, as well as other professional teams from international leagues around the world. This will mark the first time a team from the NBL Canada will travel to play exhibition games against international competition.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for not only our team, but the NBL Canada as well. It's a chance to show some of the other top leagues around the world, such as the CBA what the calibre of play actually is here in the National Basketball League of Canada" commented Magic Head Coach and GM of Player Operations Joe Salerno.
Salerno and Sports Management Unlimited have had a relationship over the past several years, a relationship which started when the Coach was contacted by the company to bring over a team of select NBL Canada players for a similar trip back in the spring of 2015.
"The 2015 tour went very well. I was able to hand pick a select group of players from the NBL, following the 2014-15 season and bring them to China to compete against NBL China Teams, which is the country's 2nddivision. This trip will be much different, as we will be bringing over the core of our Magic roster, and competing against CBA teams, which will be much stiffer competition."
The CBA is regarded by many as one of the top 10 professional leagues in the world. It has become a destination for former NBA players such as Stephon Marbury, Luis Scola, Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger and many more, solidifying its impressive talent level. The Magic will be facing numerous CBA teams, as well as teams from top leagues in Australia, Latvia, and Bosnia.
14 people from the Magic organization will be making the trip in September, consisting of 11 players and 3 staff members. Joining Coach Salerno on the staff will be Magic assistant coach Mitch Rowley, and team physiotherapist John Gonzales. Eight of the eleven players who will be attending the trip are currently under contract with the Magic for the upcoming NBL Canada season and will be reporting to the teams official training camp which will be held in Moncton in late October. Fan favourites Corey Allmond, Denzell Taylor and Anthony Cox will all be on the trip, as well as some of the new off-season signings such as Jahii Carson, Doug Herring, and Canadian rookie Gentrey Thomas to name a few.
"This trip will give us the ability to see some of our new faces mesh with our returnees, as well see some players who may not be under contract with us playing against great competition in
game like settings. We will be able to make some decisions on some players before our official training camp beings in October. It's just a great way to start building some team chemistry before the season even starts." Commented Salerno.
The Magic will be departing for Beijing on September 8th, with the trip expected to last 16-18 days. The first game of the China tour is scheduled for September 11, in the city of Pinglian, Gansu against BC Sloboda Tuzla from Bosnia, representing the Adriatic League of Southern Europe. Magic fans will be able to follow the team during their tour with daily updates through the team's social media platforms and website.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from August 24, 2018
- Magic Heading to China for Pre-Season Tour - Moncton Magic
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
