Behrend Basketball experiences Portugal
The Penn State Behrend Mens basketball team had a very unique opportunity over the summer to travel to Portugal. The team was overseas from August 9th to August 16th, and the trip proved to be beneficial, both on and off the court.
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In Portugal, the Behrend Lions practiced several times, and got the chance to play two games against international opponents. Senior guard Malquan Pullium, stated that “Playing against foreign teams was a good experience because we played against something different, and we learned from them.” The lions posted victories in both of their matchups, with a score of 75-71 versus the Libson All Stars. Their other game was not as close, with a final score of 75-60 against the Albufeira Immortal Basketball Club. Pullium’s take on the games was quite positive. “We made mistakes in games, but those mistakes will help us in the regular season.” Regular season play is still months away, but this was valuable experience for a very young team that had nine freshmen on the roster last year.
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In addition to the time spent on the court, the team accomplished a lot in their free time. They we allowed to explore and sight see while there, and even tried their hand at surfing while at the beach. Due to the language barrier they were forced to rely upon each other for everything. Head coach Dave Niland remarked, "It also forces them to bond and rely on each other because of the language barrier and it improves your awareness as well as communication skills.” The bonding time improves communication between the players, and the improved team chemistry will without a doubt benefit the team in the long run.
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This trip to Portugal is not the Lion’s first time in the international basketball sphere. In the past Behrend has traveled to Germany (1998), Spain (2002), Brazil (2010), and Costa Rica (2013). Niland stated that he is “already looking forward to our next adventure in 2019.”
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The trip to Portugal will definitely help the team in a number of ways when they step on the court for the regular season tip off. The trip was also a very special opportunity for the team to experience a different culture, and the team is thankful for such an opportunity.