VANCOUVER - Senior weekend is upon War Memorial Gym, with two games of massive consequence on tap for the U SPORTS No.7-ranked UBC Thunderbirds, as the team's graduating players battle to ensure this is not the final time they play meaningful basketball on home court. The T-Birds host the UNBC Timberwolves (2-14) for a Friday night tilt at 7:30 p.m. (PT) followed by a rematch at 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.

The Thunderbirds are sitting at 12-4, two and half games behind the Victoria Vikes for first in Canada West's Pacific division, and a game and a half up on the UFV Cascades for second, with only the top two teams hosting quarterfinals. A trip to Victoria for their final regular season series looms next weekend, meaning the 'Birds need to take care of the 'Wolves on home floor to ensure that they control their own fate and have a chance to snatch the division crown from the archrival Vikes, who are also the defending national champions.

"This is always a big weekend," mused UBC interim head coach Phil Jalalpoor. "You want to say it's business as usual, but with six guys set to leave the program, this could be their last time playing at War Memorial Gym.

"There's an extra level of intensity for sure. But, we've got a gameplan, we will prepare as well as we can, and give it our all."
 

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All five of the T-Birds' primary starters are set to graduate at season's end: Nikola Guzina, Holt Tomie, Tobi Akinkunmi, Gus Goerzen, and Toni Maric, as well as reserve guard Juan Navarro. Maric, Guzina and Akinkunmi have been with the team since before the COVID-cancelled season 2020-21 season, meaning they are set to end extraordinarily long careers as UBC varsity athletes at the conclusion of this campaign.

"I'm really grateful for what the seniors have done this year," said Jalalpoor. "It was a huge transition, adapting to my style as a coach, what I want, what I see, and running with it, all in their final season. I asked a lot from them, really to transform themselves a bit, and they bought in. I'm really grateful that they embraced the change and helped set us in a new direction. It's a very special group that will be missed for sure."

That group has led the blue and gold to the second-best offence in Canada West at 86 points per game, the lowest opponent shooting percentage at 38.6%, and the best rebounding differential in the conference at +7.8 per game.



Their opponents this weekend, UNBC, thrive on the playmaking of star point guard Justin Sunga. The fourth-year from Burnaby ranks fifth in Canada West is assists per game, while leading the 'Wolves in scoring.

The two teams are also very familiar with each other, as they just matched up in Prince George two weeks ago. The 'Birds won that game 88-74, with six UBC players scoring 10 or more points.

"I think they're really good at executing their approach and are better than their record shows," analyzed Jalalpoor.

"They went to Victoria last weekend and it came down to the wire. If you're not careful and giving maximum effort you're going to be in trouble, because they compete and always give it their all as a team. They can be very dangerous."
 
Tickets to this weekend's games are still available here. Stream all of the action, live or on demand, on Canada West TV, powered by BioSteel.