TPG UPLAY made their way down from Canada to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the East Circuit’s championship weekend. This squad played with loads of passion and energy on both ends of the floor. The team had a contagious energy surrounding them which made them an entertaining group to watch. They had a slow start in their first game against Team Takeover which unfortunately resulted in a loss, however they made sure to bounce back on Saturday night. The group ended the weekend with a narrow one-possession loss to Team Falcon, although there was plenty for the 2029 TPG UPLAY group to be proud about. There’s multiple prospects on this team to look out for in the coming years up North in Canada.
The 2029 TPG UPLAY group struggled early on in a Saturday morning matchup against a talented Team Takeover squad. They did a great job controlling the pace in the opening stages of this game which was a smart move by the coaching staff to help contain a highly athletic opposing team. Despite the outcome of a loss, TPG UPLAY played extremely hard and didn’t let up at all.
2029 forward Terry Tsenebis-Alexander was a standout performer for TPG UPLAY on the offensive end in this game. He leveraged his positional size around the rim to earn some high percentage looks in the paint. His size was difficult for Team Takeover to handle and he took full advantage of this. Tsenebis-Alexander also made some strong reads when passing out of the post when double teams were sent his way.
2029 guard Jabrieel Forde also had some positive moments in this game as well. He’s a willing playmaker off the bounce who was able to get in the lane at a high volume. His ability to get into the defense allowed the perimeter to open up, plus he did a good job distributing the ball and finding open teammates.
Aside from Tsenebis-Alexander and Forde, TPG UPLAY was able to get steady contributions from Kaleb Banfield, Massimo Scorza, and Jorell Keen.
Game 2: 20 point win over New York Gauchos
The 2029 TPG Uplay group came out firing on Saturday night in a redemption game after losing their first outing at East championship weekend. The group sustained their momentum early and never took their foot of the gas. You could tell this team was hungry for a win and everyone thrived within their roles. They played extremely unselfish in this game and this was a big key in what made them highly successful.
2029 wing guard Jorell Keen led the scoring attack for TPG Uplay in Saturday night’s game against New York Gauchos. He’s an athletic wing guard who possesses a quick first step that allows him to get downhill quickly. He was shifty with the ball in his hands and this allowed him to beat defenders frequently. Defensively, Keen’s speed translated to the defensive end where he was a laterally quick defender.
2029 guard Kaleb Banfield was another guy who stood out for TPG Uplay in the win over New York Gauchos. He was a reliable secondary creator who was able to take advantage of and penetrate open gaps in the defense. His downhill playmaking allowed the defense to open up which ultimately gave his teammates open looks. Banfield definitely played a vital part in a team effort for securing an East championship weekend win.
2029 guard Makhai Spencer was the straw that stirred the drink for TPG Uplay against New York Gauchos. He’s a shifty lead guard who was a true floor general between his balance of scoring and playmaking. He was able to create offense by putting pressure on the rim, plus he finished with craft + touch in the lane.
TPG Uplay also received noticeable contributions from Massimo Scorza and Terry Tsenebis-Alexander to help them land a win.
Game 3: One-Possession Loss to Team Falcon
Sunday morning held a game of runs between Team Falcon and TPG Uplay. This one was back and forth for most of the game which led to a feeling that it’d come down to the final possessions. The 2029 TPG Uplay group had a well-balanced attack which helped them see success against a strong Team Falcon squad. Although TPG Uplay didn’t come out on top in this one, they should certainly be proud of how they competed the entire weekend.
2029 guard Kaleb Banfield led the offensive charge for TPG Uplay in this one. He was once again getting downhill which allowed his team to earn some high percentage looks. He made some impressive passes in this game, specifically a drop-down pass that the defense didn’t see coming. Banfield also made some key contributions on the defensive end of the floor where he utilized his length to force turnovers.
2029 forward Terry Tsenebis-Alexander also had a strong showing in this game and he was productive on the offensive end of the floor. He exploited smaller mismatches in the post by using his positional size and functional strength to seal position in the paint. He set hard screens that allowed his guards to get angles to work with. Tsenebis-Alexander also used his size to assert himself in the paint as a defensive anchor when protecting the rim.
TPG Uplay also received notable contributions from Carmine Meier, Anand-Singh Bains, and Jorell Keen in this one.
