This weekend sees the busiest weekend of knockout basketball in the Irish sporting calendar come to Cork for the semi-finals of the Hula Hoops National Cup.
The 20-game series features 10 competitions and gets underway on Friday night when GCD Swords Thunder face C&S UCC Demons in a repeat of last years Men’s National Cup Semi-Final.
Thunder Coach Dave Baker says: "It’s always a tough trip to Cork playing the Champs in their own gym but we haven’t tested Demons so far. That’s our goal – test them, get into the fourth quarter and see what happens if it’s a close game."
In the other half of the draw, PyrobelKillester are hoping to have former Belfast Star guard Mike Calo available for their meeting with Templeogue.
Templeogue are unbeaten in all competitions this season including a two-point win in December over Saturday’s opponents.
"The group that we have, we’re able to come together when we need to come together," says Templeogue Coach Mark Keenan. "Jason Killeen got some minutes last weekend too so we’re in good shape."
The Women’s National Cup takes centre stage on Saturday night with Team Montenotte Hotel facing Meteors in the last four. Niamh Dwyer will be missing for the Cork side with a torn ACL, not that it’s dented her spirit.
"We love January," says the Ireland guard. "We love the cup and everything that goes with it. You saw how we reacted [to her injury]. Winning the next week against Killester was our best performance of the season."
Before that, Maxol WIT Wildcats make their return to the semi-finals against PyrobelKillester.
"The Wildcats love winning," according to Katie Fox, one of their American duo. "We never take it for granted. Winning our sixth game was just as sweet as winning our first."
