BBL Cup Semi Final Preview – Eagles V Sharks

All eyes will understandably be fixed on Sport Central tonight, as Esh Group Eagles Newcastle bid to overturn a three-point deficit from the first-leg of their semi-final showdown with One Health Sharks Sheffield.

It promises to be an intriguing and exciting match-up, with the Eagles bidding to make their third successive trip to the National Indoor Arena for the showpiece game next month.

The Sharks are also riding high in the league too and will be expected to cement their status as bona-fide contenders with a win against lowly Birmingham on Sunday.

Knights’ leader Brent Benson is determined to stay positive and is hoping for a belated first success, with his team hosting Plymouth University Raiders tomorrow.

He said, “With us having a young and inexperienced team, I think the speed, and physicality has been the biggest adjustment so far this year.

“We are showing flashes in most games, so hopefully we can put it together in a full game.”

Meanwhile Raiders’ play-caller Jay Marriott is trying to pick his team up from missing out on a BBL Cup Final and then crashing at home to Sharks last time out.

“It was always going to be a tough weekend for us, but we lacked that something special to see us through,” confessed Marriott.

“It was disappointing, but both myself and the guys knew we would have some adversity along the way.

“I have new ideas, new beliefs and it will take time to find that consistency. We took a lot of positives, especially out of the Sheffield game, but it’s now putting those ghosts to bed and showing a little more focus.

“We are a determined group, so we will bounce back.”

It may still be relatively early in the season, but there is a fierce battle brewing for play-off spots, with Glasgow Rocks, Durham Wildcats, Manchester Giants and Cheshire Phoenix all together in the 7-10 spots.

There are a couple of pivotal games this weekend, with Wildcats at Rocks on Sunday and Phoenix at Giants in the north-west derby.

Jonny Bunyan is looking for Rocks to return to winning ways and said, “Our defence needs to be improved for this week. I still feel like we are improving with every game and close to putting a good amount of wins together.”

Wildcats’ coach Lee Davie has been reflecting on his teams’ loss to neighbours Esh Group Eagles Newcastle, but isn’t too downhearted.

He claimed, “Other than trying to eliminate those individual errors throughout practice this week, we wouldn’t say there has been much to change.

“We can compete at both ends of the floor with the leagues’ best and like everyone else, we need to stay on task for 40 minutes, because as soon as you stray, get punished for it.”

David Aliu has been in great-form of late for Manchester and he is confident his side are finally on the pathway towards finding some consistent success.

“I really feel that we are starting to find our identity as a team and our last few results, even though they were losses have proved that,” insisted the forward.

“Hopefully it can be the start of consistent basketball from us as a team.

“The league is extremely competitive this season right the way through, so we just have to protect our home court and try to steal a few on the road in order to push for the play-offs.”

Finally, there is action at the top of the table too, with London Lions needing to prove their credentials as potential BBL Championship winners by producing the goods in a mouth-watering game at defending champions Leicester Riders tomorrow.

Riders also face Surrey on Sunday and it could barely be a more difficult weekend for United, who also head to the University of Worcester Arena tonight to face a Wolves team still firmly in the title race.

Enjoy the games!

Story – BBL