{"id":3074,"date":"2018-09-10T12:33:18","date_gmt":"2018-09-10T12:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rr2021\/?p=3074"},"modified":"2018-09-12T10:09:58","modified_gmt":"2018-09-12T10:09:58","slug":"rockets-new-line-up-set-for-pre-season-clash-against-welsh-national-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-new-line-up-set-for-pre-season-clash-against-welsh-national-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockets new line-up set for pre-season clash against Welsh National Squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Reading Rockets senior men\u2019s squad will play their first home game of the 2018\/19 campaign at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading this Sunday with a pre-season friendly against the Welsh national team.<\/p>\n

Tipping at 5pm, the match will see a new-look Rockets men\u2019s team line up against the best players in Wales, offering recent signings the chance to gel ahead of the National Basketball League (NBL) season later in September.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a busy off-season for the Rockets with the announcements of US stars Trae Pemberton and AJ Carr, Irishmen Adrian and Ronan O\u2019Sullivan, and recently confirmed Club Captain Danny Carter. The senior men\u2019s side has received a further boost with Sydney Donaldson and Troy McIndoe confirmed for 2018\/19.<\/p>\n

There have also been changes to the coaching team following the departure of Manuel Pena Garces. Alan Keane has taken over as Head Coach, ably supported by Josh Thorne, who has moved from the men\u2019s Division 4 side.<\/p>\n

Keane also maintains responsibility for developing the young players in the Rockets Academy. Over the summer, Keane also guided the GB under-18s to their highest ever finish in the European Championships. With a focus on youth players, Coach Keane will now look at moulding a revitalised men\u2019s team while launching the senior careers of a number of Rockets Academy players.<\/p>\n

Head Coach Alan Keane<\/strong>: \u201cI am excited that we will host the Welsh National Team at home this Sunday. Coach James Bamfield and I had some dialogue in the off-season about the possibility to play this game. With James doing a wonderful job with basketball in Wales, I have no doubt this team will offer us the challenges we need to continue building our Rockets principles and standards of excellence. The growth and development of Welsh basketball over the past few years has been great to see. This Welsh senior team comes to us off the back of a narrow loss to USA Select. In addition, two days prior to our showdown, BBL side Bristol Flyers will test them. This is another great opportunity for us to establish and cement our style of game, offer another valuable benchmark and a platform for our guys to exhibit their skillset and commitment to our process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rockets Chairman, Gary Johnson<\/strong>, is delighted with the reality of seeing the Academy players getting more court time than ever before this season: \u201cIt\u2019s been our goal for a while,\u201d said the Welshman. \u201cAlready in two friendlies we\u2019ve played five of the six Academy squad players with the sixth out injured, so we\u2019re releasing these young men, furthering their development and being contributors. I urge everyone to come and witness first-hand the array of talent we have on offer at Rockets this coming season.\u201d<\/p>\n

In friendlies against Team USA Select and British Basketball League outfit Surrey Scorchers, Rockets new senior men have given much encouragement to the coaching and performance team, as they finalise their preparations before the National Cup, National Trophy and league campaign begin in earnest on Sunday 30th\u00a0September.<\/p>\n

The entire Rockets organisation will be keen to secure some silverware having come close in two competitions last season. In a year when the club turns 21, this could be the breakthrough season where Reading Rockets truly \u2018comes of age.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more information about Reading Rockets, please contact:<\/p>\n

Chris Hughes \u2013 07917 352511<\/p>\n

Chris.Hughes@sqn.agency<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Reading Rockets senior men\u2019s squad will play their first home game of the 2018\/19 campaign at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading this Sunday with a pre-season friendly against the Welsh national team. Tipping at 5pm, the match will see a new-look Rockets men\u2019s team line up against the best players in Wales, offering […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2200,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":[],"_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"spay_email":""},"categories":[3,6],"tags":[220,144,152,143,217,142],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/basketball-court.png?fit=705%2C267&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdDaI5-NA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3134,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-senior-men-ready-to-chase-2018-19-national-trophy\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":0},"title":"Rockets Senior Men ready to chase 2018\/19 National Trophy","date":"27\/09\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets are aiming to transform their pre-season performances into tangible results as 2018\/19 National Basketball League Division 1 action gets underway this weekend. Fresh from an impressive and measured win against the Welsh national side, Rockets senior men will play newly promoted Thames Valley Cavaliers in the National Trophy.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TVC-match-preview.jpg?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2966,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/second-irish-player-signing-for-rockets-as-ronan-osullivan-joins\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":1},"title":"Second Irish Player signing for Rockets as Ronan O\u2019Sullivan Joins","date":"12\/07\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The new signings for Reading Rockets basketball club are coming thick and fast as the club announces the arrival of 24-year-old Irishman Ronan O\u2019Sullivan. Reading Rockets is well known for its family values, so it\u2019s fitting that Ronan joins his cousin Adrian as part of the line-up for the 2018\/19\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ronan-1_crop_700x298.jpg?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2978,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/reading-rockets-adds-american-flair-to-senior-mens-squad\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":2},"title":"Reading Rockets Adds American Flair to Senior Men’s Squad","date":"19\/07\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets has revealed the next player to join its senior men\u2019s squad for the forthcoming 2018\/19 National Basketball League (NBL) season, American forward AJ Carr. The 23-year-old, who hails from Fairfax, Virginia, becomes the first American player to be announced for the new season after recent Irish signings Adrian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Carr-4-news.png?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2827,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/reading-rockets-appoint-alan-keane-as-head-coach\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":3},"title":"Reading Rockets appoint Alan Keane as Head Coach","date":"14\/05\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"READING ROCKETS - Communications - New role will see the Irishman lead a new coaching team across the senior men and Rockets Academy Position aimed at bridging the gap between up-and-coming rising stars in the youth teams and the senior squad Keane most recently acted as Assistant Coach for England\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Alan-Keane.png?fit=670%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3007,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-sign-trae-pemberton-for-2018-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":4},"title":"Rockets sign Trae Pemberton for 2018\/19","date":"01\/08\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets have made another important announcement ahead of its 2018\/19 National Basketball League campaign with the signing of 26-year-old American Trae Pemberton. The 6ft4 guard from Indiana, who celebrates his birthday later this month (19 August), joins compatriot AJ Carr and Irish players Adrian and Ronan O\u2019Sullivan on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Trea-news.png?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3058,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/reading-rockets-name-danny-carter-club-captain-for-2018-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":3074,"position":5},"title":"Reading Rockets name Danny Carter club captain for 2018\/19","date":"05\/09\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets has begun its pre-season preparations in earnest with the arrival of new and returning players to the town ahead of the 2018\/19 National Basketball League, which gets underway later this month. As part of a strengthened line-up including recently announced signings AJ Carr (USA), Trae Pemberton (USA), Adrian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Rockets-captain-Danny-Carter-in-action-e1481744454241.png?fit=705%2C352&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3074"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3074"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3075,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3074\/revisions\/3075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}