Former Clarion Bobcat Mike Taylor Guides Polish National Basketball Team In World Cup Beginning This Saturday (08/29/19)

(Photos submitted) Polish National Team in Ergo Arena – Gdansk, Poland after completing qualifying games for World Cup 2019 in China (Mike in Row 2, second from left)

Former Clarion Area Bobcat Mike Taylor leads his Polish National Basketball Team onto the biggest stage in his professional head coaching career to-date, beginning this Saturday (August 31st) in the FIBA World Cup, in China.

Team Poland will begin play in three First Round Group A games, through next Wednesday (September 4th).

Saturday’s game will see Poland squaring off against Venezuela. Then on Monday (September 2nd), Poland will face host China. And on Wednesday, their opponent will be Ivory Coast. All three games will be played at Beijing’s Wukesong Sports Arena.

Mike, who is in his sixth season as head coach for the Polish National Team, has the honor of leading Team Poland in what is only the second FIBA World Cup appearance in team history and the first in 52 years.

Team Poland earned their place in the World Cup during a two year qualification process that saw Poland compiling an 8-4 mark. They won their last five games, upsetting Croatia twice and Italy once.

In an earlier article on CSZ, Mike said, “I am so happy that our core of players will be remembered in Poland as the ones who achieved something special in their National team careers.”

The FIBA World Games will be held through September 15th, at venues throughout China.

(GO GET ‘EM, MIKE AND TEAM POLAND!!!! YOU MAKE US CLARION PROUD!!!!)