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Algoma basketball player to turn pro

Reng Gum is opening doors for future members of Algoma University's basketball teams
2018-06-17 Reng Gum AU
Photo courtesy Algoma University

Reng Gum made his way to Algoma University via Surrey, BC to play basketball.

Now the man who served as the captain of Algoma’s men’s team will get the opportunity to play professionally.

A power forward who recently graduated from Algoma University, Gum is set to head to Portugal to continue his basketball career after recently signing with Associacao Amigos D’Angrabasket of the Portuguese league.

The first player from Algoma to turn pro, Gum called it an exciting opportunity.

“I am excited to be playing for Angra basketball and for Coach Nuno,” said Gum. “I can’t wait to get started in September and have been preparing for the start of the season back home in Vancouver.”

His new coach, Nuno Rodrigues, said Gum is going to bring something that his team lacked.

“On defence, he’s going to be huge. He’s going to bring a lot of things that we didn’t have last season,” Rodrigues said. “This season we want to be one of the best teams on defence.”

The opportunity is one that will give Gum a chance to develop as he shifts focus from being a student-athlete at Algoma to a pro basketball player.

“I believe he can grow as a player because he has the ability to, for the first time in his life, only play basketball,” Rodrigues said. “He’ll grow a lot.”

Rodrigues noted the style of play in Portugal differs from the North American game, but he feels that Gum, as an inside player who can run the floor, can help his team play a more North American style.

“It’s a European-style so the game is slower and more technical and controlled,” Rodrigues said. “It’s not the running game that you’re used to in North America.

Rodrigues has spent two years travelling to North America in the off-season and learning the style.

“It’s so different,” Rodrigues said. “It’s a lot more physical (in North American) and we’re more technical. To have the fusion of both would be wonderful.”

For the Algoma basketball program, Gum’s opportunity is something that potential recruits will look to when choosing their university.

“It’s huge for our program,” said men’s basketball coach Thomas Cory. “Tons of other programs in the country are sending players overseas and I believe that our players are just as good. Reng’s the first guy to open that door for us.”


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Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
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