December 14, 2011

Shooting guard Alex Gil is one of three juniors projected to start for North Bergen. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

North Bergen Bruins Photo Gallery

Kevin Bianco has plenty of question marks in the final days leading up to Friday's season opener. These on-court concerns are trivial in comparison to what the North Bergen head coach faced a year ago.

Bianco was forced away from the game he loved and his spot on the North Bergen bench as he battled against leukemia. The fiery coach is back this season to the excitement of the Bruins and the rest of the county.

"Everyone's very excited that things have worked out for me so far," Bianco said. "We're hoping to continue where we left off."

Bianco and the rest of the Bruins' coaching staff will have their hands full this upcoming season as they have one of the youngest teams in the county.

"They're playing well, they're capable of playing well, but you have to realize they're going to be hit with a lot of stuff fairly quick," Bianco said. "We're going to have to make adjustments very quickly and have to remember that they're a very young team."

One, in particular who looks poised for a big season is junior shooting guard Alex Gil. The 6-foot-0 Gil flashed the ability to score points in bunches a season ago. The Bruins will look for him to break out both offensively and defensively.

"We put a lot of pressure on him to perform well," Bianco said. "He's handling the situation very well. He's matured a lot.

"Defensively he has gotten a lot better. That's huge because if he's not playing defensively, he's not going to play. Offensively, everybody knows he can shoot the basketball, but we needed him to play defense a lot more seriously for him to be out there on a consistent basis because we're so small."

Gil is one of four outside threats in the North Bergen starting lineup. Junior Eddie Garcia takes over at the point and sophomore Anthony Rodriguez is the third guard. Junior Robert DeLeon gives the Bruins a stretch forward, while 6-foot-4 senior Chris Hernandez is the main inside presence for a team that will continue to rely on outside shooting and a breakneck pace.

"We have to give our team the best chance to win and our best chance to win is for us to play as fast as possible and try to cause as much chaos as possible," Bianco said.

Junior Orel Thompson is a three-year varsity player and brings athleticism and the ability to play multiple positions off the bench. Six-foot-four junior Balla Thiam gives North Bergen added size while junior William Davilla is a high-energy swingman. Bianco will also rely on 6-foot-1 freshman to provide relief at both guard spots.

2011-12 North Bergen
Orel Thompson	2010/2011: 7-14 County Playoffs: First Round: at Dickinson 59-56 (W) Quarterfinals: at St. Peter's Prep 64-49 (L) State Playoffs: (North 1, Group IV) First Round: at Roxbury 64-44 (L)   Projected Starting Lineup (*RS) PG Eddie Garcia 5'10" JR SG Alex Gil* 6'0" JR G Anthony Rodriguez 5'11" SO PF Robert De Leon 6'3" JR C Chris Hernandez 6'4" SR Key Reserves F Orel Thompson 6'4" JR F Balla Thiam 6'4" JR G Logan Santiago 6'1" FR G/F William Davilla 6'1" JR