Assunto: National Cup

Well, round 2 had some true cup classics... we always love an underdog and that's what the NC is here for!

Top of the headlines has to be Alma Airs pulling off a remarkable 73:72 win over reigning I.1 champions Dallas Mavericks. Closely followed by Winterfell S.T.A.R.S out-shining the top-class Silver Sentinels. Of the II.div match-ups, the most exciting by far was BC Waltham Forest who pulled out a last ditch 75:74 win over Hallam Hawks. The journey down the M1 must have been just that bit too tiring for the visitors.

The draw has been made for Round 3 and my top picks to watch are:

Toronto Blue Jays - Aberdeen Oilers
This I.1 match-up has the makings of a classic. The Jays were dominant in the regular season last time out but are fighting mid-table this time. In the other conference, the Oilers are holding their own in a similar position, in their first season in the top flight. Could easily go either way. though their only league match-up so far fell firmly in favour of the Torontonians.

Lincoln Canadiens - BK Lopini
Both of these I.1 teams got off to a shaky start this season, but they both have quality lineups and a wealth of experience. Both teams will be looking for some cup success and they'll have a fight on their hands in this match-up.

Tulse Hill Eagles - BC Waltham Forest
A London derby for these two II.div teams, neither will be in for an easy ride and they'll both be hoping to make their name and get into the Last 16. Too close to call.

*rubs hands* Some great draws there!
I watched the draw again. Towards the end most of the top teams were left in it - i cringed when my team came out but was lucky not to draw a fellow 1.1 team! having said that i remember my opponent from past seasons and i know my game wont be an easy one.

Jays vs Oilers should be epic!

An eventful third round saw the impressive Aberdeen Oilers go out to the Blue Jays; Lincoln Canadiens edged out BK Lopini; and their neighbours Inter Lincoln almost had a close call in their 99:95 win over visiting Bolton Basket. We saw strong performances from some of the II.div teams as well, Tulse Hill Eagles, Club 77, Cavendish and Alma Airs are all looking impressive at this stage of the tournament, and Winterfell S.T.A.R.S are keeping up their excellent cup form.

The draw for the last 16 is tonight – this season we have ten I.1 teams and six II.div teams in the pots. Three of the top ten seeded teams have gone out, including #1 Dallas Mavericks who seem to be focussing on the I.div title and Champion’s League qualification this season. Last season’s victors Cannon Fodder are the highest seeded team still in it (#2) – can they do it again? Time will tell.

Muharhar!! i hope you 1.1ers in the top pot (pot 2) are quaking at the line up of eight underdogs before you... You guys are going to get hit hard! squawk!

Well folks, the draw is over and here are your Quarter-final line-ups. And a tasty set of games they are, too!

______________________
Winterfell STARS vs Leicester Riders
Our favourite giant-killers of Season 5, the STARS have already knocked out the highly-regarded Silver Sentinels. Leicester are having a decent league campaign this season but have dropped a few recently, and they will have a real fight on their hands after the long road-trip to the Lands of the North.

______________________
Whitefall Dragons vs Cannon Fodder
A replay of last season's Quarter-final which saw the Fodder triumph 88:76 in hard-fought game. The two teams are both 16-5 in the league this season, so it will be a tough match-up for sure.

______________________
BC Handcross vs Hearts
4th lines up against 6th from Conference A of I.div. These two closely-matched teams have met twice in the league so far, with one decision each way and both games ending with only 7 or 8 points separating the two teams. Too close to call but home-court advantage might just be the decider for Handcross.

______________________
Toronto Blue Jays vs C.I.Seagulls
Another incredibly close game on the cards here. These two teams are ranked third in their respective conferences in I.1, though the Seagulls' 15-6 record outstrips the Jays who have gone 12-9 so far. Their only previous match-up this season ended with a 94:85 win for the Channel Islanders as well, which suggest they go into this ornithological match-up as slim favourites. But they have yet to make the long flight to Toronto this season and the jet-lag might just make the difference for the home side.

Awesome pre-match coverage! I was expecting a very tough match up but we got off to a very good start that the Jays couldn't quite recover from. I think it helped we were a bit fresher and minds were focused on the Mavericks match up later in the day.

Good win for the Dragons, you played like you really wanted to win in front of your home crowd. Great turnaround after a horrible start!

What I'd like to know is where this big Brazilian ' Bez' came from !!!

- Looking forward to some great semi's

Well played guys !

Yeah, that was a great game last night (almost an exact reversal of our QF last year when the Fodder came out playing High energy from the start and held on to win it). Also made me re-think my use of Zone Offense against Zone Def, it has worked well in the past but I got a hammering in the first quarter.

Bez arrived from Brazil a few weeks ago, he's been building his Chemistry with the rest of the team by playing friendlies with the Under-19s, and practising his maracas and dancing (anyone here old enough to get that reference?). Expect to see him in the Dragons starting line-up more often from now on...!

So here we go folks, Semis tomorrow and your two match-ups are:

Winterfell S.T.A.R.S vs Whitefall Dragons

C.I.Seagulls vs Hearts

Much as a I hoped to write a Friday afternoon commentary, the evil IT department at my work have cracked down on web access (PPM is on the blocked list, prob my fault!). So let's just say, two awesome games, can't wait to see how it pans out.

Very happy to be hosting the Hearts later at Sandynest, Im expecting a sell out and my players are up for it! I expect Sheldon and Kolpakov are going to be a real handful and put the Gulls defense under a lot of pressure.

Cant wait

Well, what a nail-biter in the semis! Hearts edge out the Seagulls by 91-90, with the legendary Ellis Sheldon winning it with a 2-pointer in the final second of play! You can't get much closer than that. The other matchup was a great showdown as well, my boys had to work very hard for the win over Winterfell STARS who have done themselves proud and had a great cup run this year.

And your final games this season...

Final: Whitefall Dragons vs Hearts
A re-match of last season's I.1 first round playoff tie, which the Hearts edged out in five games. Fingers crossed for a spectacular tie.

3rd/4th game: C.I.Seagulls vs Winterfell STARS
From the Lands of the North to the Islands of the South (been waiting to use that one all season) these teams may be playing mostly for pride but they'll certainly put on a good show for bragging rights and an outside chance* of CWC qualification.


*this would require either Hearts or the Dragons to beat the Mavericks in their conference final to qualify for a CL place. Is anyone likely to beat the Mavs in the playoffs? Wouldn't put money on that!

Cracking semi's, but gutted to be on the wrong end of Sheldon's pressure shot! Really good fun though, to be so close the whole game and for it to come down to the last possession.

I love your puns it makes our matchup with Winterfell something legends are made of... except its the consolation leg haha!

Mavericks are not unbeatable... but they are putting themselves in a very strong position by saving their effort for the play offs.
Nice to see there are other teams that are trying to raise their game to match this tactic!

Well that was a nail-biter! Many congrats to Hearts for a deserved win by 77:75. Good game indeed.

Blimey, so many of the last games were decided by a few points either way. Hat off to Hearts for some sensational performances!

Well, The Dallas Maverick's "Super Coach" turned up a short while ago. All glossy in royal blue and black. Their players strode off into the Silver Dome all smiles and in good spirits.

Meanwhile, Tommy and the boys are pacing around in the locker room taping up their boots and hands like it's some kind of prizefight.

The crowds are in. - Hotdog special today is the 'Texas Megachillie Gutbuster' - in honour of our opponents.

The coaches are looking through the last of the scrib sheets and it's almost game time.

Queue the announcer..