LAS VEGAS — The summer league for the Philadelphia 76ers is all about growth and development. That is what comes first with the results coming second in this instance, so while one can be disappointed with Thursday’s 111-70 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, it can also be forgiven when considering it is just summer league and these guys don’t have much cohesion together.

The Sixers were having a tough night on Thursday, but second-year big man Adem Bona made sure the team continued to play hard and give effort. He was barking out orders all night and was encouraging his teammates to continue to play. He had six points, five rebounds, and two blocks with a steal in 16:59 of playing time.

“I think it’s really important, because I feel like I’m the anchor, because I see everything. I’m behind the play,” Bona said of being a vocal big man. “I gotta be able to voice it out to my teammates.”

The Sixers are a team full of players looking to earn a spot in the league. These guys don’t know each other well and they are just trying to put something together for the summer so they can have something to bank on. All of that means the defensive efforts can be tough to watch–as it was against the Spurs.

Therefore, Bona has to be the one to step up with his voice to make sure the Sixers know exactly where they need to be.

“I know we haven’t been together for long, so I’m trying to get everyone to do what we need to do and do what the team asks us to do,” Bona explained. “I always kind of before go, regardless of the new team or old team, I got vocal and I think that’s my style. I’m always vocal on the floor.”

Bona and the Sixers will get back at it when they take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday in Vegas.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Adem Bona discusses anchoring, leading Sixers defense in summer league