Akot ready to roar

Emmanuel Akot gains a piece of gratitude anytime he loses the game he loves.

Being sidelined by an injury — something the Winnipeg Sea Bears forward has experienced in his career more than he’d like to admit — is never easy, and the road back can be arduous at best, but the renewed appreciation on the court that ensues never gets old.

Akot, who has been on the shelf the last few weeks with an ankle sprain he suffered in Ottawa on June 4, felt that sense of graciousness on Thursday as the Sea Bears held their last practice session of the week.

“I’ve missed time before, so I understand how bad it can be not playing the game you love. So, anytime I can play the game I love, I’m always happy,” said Akot, who will return to the lineup for a critical road matchup against the Vancouver Bandits at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday (8 p.m. CT).

The Winnipeg-born forward was having a tremendous season prior to his injury, averaging 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while starting each of the first seven games. He was equally impactful on the defensive end, playing big minutes for head coach Mike Raimbault and defending some of the opposition’s top scorers.

“It’s great,” said Raimbault. “Emmanuel was playing at such a high level before he got hurt, so you’re disappointed for him personally when something like that happens. He’s worked hard to get himself back in a position to be able to play on Saturday, had a few good days of practice.

“He’s worked hard to get himself back in a position to be able to play on Saturday.”

“We understand it’s probably going to be a bit of a process to get him back to where he was, because he was playing at such an elite level, but he’s so important to the way that we play and his ability to play multiple spots and defensively be a pest and get out there and just give us that type of energy, we’re super excited to have him back.”

The Sea Bears are coming off another dominant 107-86 victory at home over the Edmonton Stingers that extended their win streak to four games.

Akot was one of two players that Raimbault hoped he’d have available for this rematch between the top two teams in the Western Conference, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Star guard Xavier Moon remains unable to suit up as he awaits clearance from FIBA, the CEBL’s governing body.

“Nada,” Raimbault, whose frustration with the administrative process could easily be felt, said about an update on Moon’s status.

“We’re just concentrating on the guys that are in the lineup and continuing to try to get better and try to play our best game on Saturday.”

Moon’s contract with Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia’s VTB United League doesn’t officially expire until June 30, which could be holding up the process of his being cleared. In that case, Moon’s target return date could be on the road in Edmonton, where he won three-straight league MVPs (2019-21), on July 5.

At least Akot represents one more bullet in the chamber for Raimbault, who said the 6-8 forward’s presence can elevate the Sea Bears’ existing offensive game plan and give them even more options.

“For him, he’s a guy that if he’s being guarded by a smaller guy, sometimes we’ll put him down in the post, and if he’s being guarded by a bigger guy, sometimes we’ll let him attack off the dribble. So, some of that is definitely situational for us,” Raimbault said.

“We just want to get him comfortable again. So, whatever that looks like, I mean, it could be very different depending on the circumstances.”

The Sea Bears dismantled a short-handed Bandits squad 114-81 at home last week, but with both clubs owning 8-4 records entering Saturday night, the stakes are elevated once again as both teams begin the second half of their schedule.

“We’re super excited to have him back.”

A victory would give Winnipeg a tremendous advantage in the regular-season tie-breaker over its most threatening conference opponent.

The Bandits will look much different than the last time these teams met, however. Two of their best players, reigning MVP Mitch Creek and standout Canadian Tyrese Samuel, are expected to be in the lineup. On the other hand, the CEBL suspended Bandits’ head coach Kyle Julius for three games in response to an altercation between him and a fan at Canada Life Centre on June 18.

Julius — who was initially handed an indefinite suspension — and the fan were chest-to-chest in a shouting match before Julius shoved the fan. The incident spilled onto the court, where the fan took a swing at a Bandits player, and guard Jaelan House looked ready to fight.

House was officially released by the Bandits on Wednesday, though the reason for the transaction has not been confirmed. The 25-year-old guard was one of the best stories in the first half of the season, and showed earlier this month how lethal he can be on the offensive end, as he scored 42 points against the Sea Bears.

“I don’t think it necessarily changes the approach, because basically every game you’re kind of wondering who’s in and who’s out, and who’s been added and who’s not there,” said Raimbault.

“You have to prepare for a lot of different variables. I think as soon as you feel like you’re prepared, you’re probably unprepared, so just making sure that we’re flexible in the things that we’re going to be able to do and things that we expect them to throw at us.”

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