THORN Killester have been awarded the ESB Men’s League title following a successful appeal to the Irish Basketball National Executive Appeals Committee last night. The team had contested the decision taken by the National Competitions Committee (NCC) on March 7th when the league was abandoned due to uncertainty caused by the foot-and-mouth crisis. Killester had also appealed the decision not to award the 2001 title, despite the fact that they were clear leaders at the time of the suspension.
Following submissions from both Killester and the NCC, the decision has been taken to uphold the abandonment of the league, but to award the ESB Men’s League title to the club.
According to a press release issued today by the Irish Basketball Association (IBA), the decision to award Killester the title was granted due to their unassailable position at the top of the league. “If all teams who were in contention at the time of the abandonment were brought forward to a position of having played 23 games (with wins being awarded to all, but Killester being awarded losses) THORN Killester would still be clear leaders,” it read. The IBA also pointed out that 90% of the ESB Men's League had been completed at the time of the abandonment, and that a FIBA (International Basketball Federation) precedent was in existence.
The revised result means that Killester have taken their first league title since 1976, and a league and club double this season. The ESB Women's League title had earlier been secured by Bausch & Lomb Wildcats, with the ESB Men's Division 1 title going to Longnecks Ballina for the third year in succession.
Filed by Shane Stokes
