The Nivea For Men’s Superleague resumes this weekend, a week after UCC Demons were crowned National Cup champions at the National Basketball Arena.
The Cork giants proved too strong for DART Killester, but the latter has an opportunity to gain some revenge this weekend when they travel to the Mardyke Arena for their second encounter in a week.
The fight for the play-off places are still very much alive with contenders UCD/Marian and Neptune meeting on Sunday, while rejuvenated Belfast Star have a double header against DCU Saints and their near neighbours Ulster Elks this weekend.
Elks, who are also on double header duty, entertain Limerick Lions on Sunday and HOOPS host Abrakebabra Tigers on Saturday at the National Basketball Arena.
UCC Demons recorded a record fifth National Cup success last weekend and will now be eyeing a possible treble ahead of their latest meeting with DART Killester.
Demons will be favourites to secure the league title after a devastating display against Mark Keenan’s side but head coach Douglas Leichner believes any further discussion regarding the cup should be put to one side.
‘We have a formidable challenge this weekend when SuperLeague Northern Conference leader DART Killester comes to Cork,’ said Leichner.
‘I am glad we play such a great team the weekend after winning the Cup. It will force us to get back to hard training. ‘We must put down the Cup now and focus our attention on the league,’ he added.
‘DART will be hungry and eager to prove their status as an elite team. Offensively, DART Killester is very good at cutting to the hoop and recently has shown the ability to play effective “Pick & Roll”. We must play at a high defensive level and win the battle of the boards. Rebounding is a “Gang Mentality” and our perimeter must continue to help our inside.’
Demons and DART have both revealed full strength squads with DART head coach Mark Keenan desperate to get the cup out of his players’ minds.
‘We can not dwell on the cup loss,’ said Keenan. ‘It’s just important that we take what we can from it and learn. We have a big and challenging task ahead this weekend. The biggest challenge will be the mental one, to get the heads right for another clash with UCC for the top record in the country. We are up for the challenge though.’
UCD/Marian can take another giant step towards the play-off places this weekend when they take on fellow challengers Neptune at UCD’s Sports Complex on Sunday.
UCD have a number of injury worries ahead of the weekend with Daniel James (ankle) definitely ruled out, while Conor James, Gary Edge and Michael Parker are all doubtful.
Neptune boasts a full quota and their head coach Stephen McCarthy believes a minimum of three wins out of their last five games is a minimum requirement to secure a Play Off place.
‘We need at least three wins to get a place,’ said McCarthy. ‘They are a good team, probably the most consistent outside the top two. We have our work cut out but our focus is to make the business end of the season.’
HOOPS, who have no injury problems, are another side trying to finish their season on a high but a win against Abrakebabra Tigers is essential to keep their hopes intact. ‘We have to win this if we have any chance of making the Play-Off',’ said HOOPS Head Coach Ahmad Smith. ‘It's a tight race and we need to get a run going.’
Abrakebabra Tigers continue life without Micheal Quirke and Kieran Donaghy but report no further injury problems after travelling to the capital two weeks ago with just eight fit players.
Belfast Star’s recent run of results has left them with a great opportunity of salvaging a Play-Off place and they can take a further step this weekend when they take on a full strength DCU Saints on Saturday before their latest derby clash with Ulster Elks.
Chris Butler is set to continue his recovery after coming through their recent double header with no reaction to his hand injury.
Ulster Elks have also a busy weekend to negotiate with Limerick Lions on the agenda for Saturday before meeting Star less than 24 hours later. Lions will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat to UCD/Marian with their Head Coach JP Nerbun looking for a repeat of their recent shock win over DART Killester.
’Going into this weekend’s game we are just focusing on playing as a team especially on our offense,’ said Nerbun. ‘Going all the way up North is not easy and we hope to bring back the team performance we had against DART Killester three weeks ago.’
ELKS have a number of injury worries with 6’8 Conor Gallagher ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, while Conor O’Dornan is still sidelined with an injury.
Meanwhile, in Basketball Ireland’s Women’s Superleague, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork return to league action away to Meteors after securing the three-in-row of cup successes against Bausch & Lomb Wildcats.
League leaders DCU Mercy make the short trip to the Tolka Rovers Sports Complex to face Tolka Rovers.
Bausch & Lomb Wildcats will be hoping to erase the disappointment of last weekend’s National Cup Final loss when they take on LeisureWorld Churchfield IONA at the Neptune Stadium. DART Killester face a tough search for their first win of the season away to a UL Aughinish side with serious aspirations of league success this season.
