Bradford Dragons Basketball Club are thrilled to announce that Jermayne Laing and Rafi Saipe have both committed themselves to another season in the Dragons Den.
Laing, will be entering into his fifth campaign on the Dragons roster, having joined the club from neighbouring Leeds Force at the start of the 2013/14 season. The 27-year-old shooting guard also has experience of playing in the United States, where he attended prep school and also attended the highly acclaimed 22ft Basketball Academy in the south of France. Laing has firmly established himself within the Dragon’s lair and defensively he has proved to be an outstanding perimeter player, whilst his speed and agility also provides the team with additional options at the offensive end of the court.
Meanwhile, 6’2” guard, Saipe, who also joined from Leeds Force, starts his fourth season with the Dragons. Having spent much of his first season warming the bench, he has since gone on to win himself a regular spot within the starting five. He is known for his tenacious defending; however, he is also a very capable shooter and rebounder at the offensive end, highlighted by a flurry of high scoring performances during the 2016/17 campaign.
Laing, will be entering into his fifth campaign on the Dragons roster, having joined the club from neighbouring Leeds Force at the start of the 2013/14 season. The 27-year-old shooting guard also has experience of playing in the United States, where he attended prep school and also attended the highly acclaimed 22ft Basketball Academy in the south of France. Laing has firmly established himself within the Dragon’s lair and defensively he has proved to be an outstanding perimeter player, whilst his speed and agility also provides the team with additional options at the offensive end of the court.
Meanwhile, 6’2” guard, Saipe, who also joined from Leeds Force, starts his fourth season with the Dragons. Having spent much of his first season warming the bench, he has since gone on to win himself a regular spot within the starting five. He is known for his tenacious defending; however, he is also a very capable shooter and rebounder at the offensive end, highlighted by a flurry of high scoring performances during the 2016/17 campaign.
“I’m really looking forward to this season and eager to get going,” declares Saipe. “Last year, it was nice to be back in the playoffs, but our aims as a team are higher. We and Coach Mellor want to be winning our final game in late April (playoff final).
“I love the group of guys that we are bringing back from last season and with a few additions I know we will get the best out of each other.
“I think we need to improve our defensive mindset and look to hold teams to a lower points total. We have one of the best defensive coaches to help us to do this and I’m confident that the guys will all buy in to helping us achieve our goals for this season.”
Both Laing and Saipe will be in the Dragons squad to face their old team, Leeds Force, when the Dragons travel to the Carnegie Sports Arena, for a preseason fixture, on Sunday 10th September, 2017. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Leeds transitioned into the British Basketball League in 2014. Previous fixtures between them have always been exciting, passionate events and despite this being a ‘friendly’ it is a game that is sure to get hearts pumping. Tip off at the Carnegie Arena is at 4pm and Bradford fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance via the Dragons website.
Photographs © Templewood Photography
“I love the group of guys that we are bringing back from last season and with a few additions I know we will get the best out of each other.
“I think we need to improve our defensive mindset and look to hold teams to a lower points total. We have one of the best defensive coaches to help us to do this and I’m confident that the guys will all buy in to helping us achieve our goals for this season.”
Both Laing and Saipe will be in the Dragons squad to face their old team, Leeds Force, when the Dragons travel to the Carnegie Sports Arena, for a preseason fixture, on Sunday 10th September, 2017. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Leeds transitioned into the British Basketball League in 2014. Previous fixtures between them have always been exciting, passionate events and despite this being a ‘friendly’ it is a game that is sure to get hearts pumping. Tip off at the Carnegie Arena is at 4pm and Bradford fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance via the Dragons website.
Photographs © Templewood Photography
RSS Feed
