TEARS of joy for UCD Marian as they defeated hot favourites Killester in a pulsating Men’s SuperLeague national cup final at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.

CORK is regarded by many as the spiritual home of Irish basketball and fans are in for another treat this weekend when all the National Cup semi-finals will be decided over two action-packed days at Neptune Stadium and the Parochial Hall.

THE form guide points to a classic. When UCC Demons and National Event Hire Neptune clashed in the SuperLeague this season, overtime was required before the former claimed a three-point win over their arch rivals.

NOT many sporting outfits get to return to their less sophisticated roots.

TEAM effort was the key as UCC Demons saw off DCU Saints, 86-71, to get their defence of their SuperLeague National Cup off to the perfect start at The Mardyke Arena yesterday.

UCC Demons’ tipped off their SuperLeague National Cup campaign by edging out DCU Saints by a 15-point margin today.

The Irish International campaign for 2007 is getting into its stride with two more groups heading to Europe to sharpen their teeth for the challenges that lie ahead on the European stage this season and beyond.

Team Montenotte Hotel Cork have defeated UL Aughinish 89-75 in a pulsating final in the National Basketball Arena to claim the Women's Superleague National Cup.

The SuperLeague’s Men’s and Women’s basketball finals take place this coming Sunday in the National Basketball Arena.

There are three second-round games in the SuperLeague National Cup this weekend with a place in the quarter-finals of the competition at stake.

The Nivea For Men SuperLeague and Women’s SuperLeague Championships will take a break this weekend and will make way for the National Cup competitions.

UCC DEMONS and Limerick Lions will provide an all-Munster final in the SuperLeague National Cup on Sunday week after yesterday’s semi-finals saw them dismiss Merry Monk Ballina and DART Killester, respectively, at the National Basketball Arena.