BORD GÁIS Neptune coach, Pat Price, is planning without their 6’7” power forward, Robinson Louisme, for their big NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague clash with UL Eagles at Neptune Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

SOME old faces will be missing from the scene with the addition of some promising newcomers when the basketball’s Nivea for Men’s SuperLeague gets underway tonight.

ABRAKEBABRA TIGERS have arranged an emergency meeting ahead of tomorrow night’s SuperLeague clash with Merry Monk Ballina to consider the decision to deduct points from them following their recent game with Limerick Lions.

LIMERICK LIONS produced the shock result of the opening weekend of basketball’s men’s SuperLeague by pipping Merry Monk by a point in Ballina — and now their coach, Matt Hall, wants more of the same for the visit of DCU Saints to the UL Arena tomorrow night.

With just five weeks left in the regular season, all teams have their eyes firmly fixed on capturing a coveted play-off spot in the NIVEA for Men SuperLeague quarter-finals (to take place on March 18 and 19).

UCC DEMONS will have the national cup on parade when they play host to Roma St. Vincent’s at The Mardyke Arena on Sunday afternoon, but Pat Price’s squad will have other things on their mind as they brace themselves for a furious run up to the play-off stages in defence of the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague title.

Longford PV’s Falcons 76 Team Blarney Park 58

NEPTUNE fans are at their wits end at the moment. Out of the cup and after making a dismal start to the NIVEA for Men’s SuperLeague, their team can only go one way.

Galwey Auctioneering Hoops 71 Mardyke UCC Demons 41

DAVID MURPHY, one of Irish basketball’s most exciting young talents, faces a busy weekend with the possibility of playing in the senior men’s semi-final with Mardyke UCC Demons before going on to captain the club’s U19’s tomorrow night in the men’s junior final.

NEPTUNE and Shamrock Rovers Hoops have each won basketball’s most coveted prize - the National Cup - four times but tomorrow night they will be battling to stay in this year’s competition at Neptune Stadium.

MARDYKE UCC Demons are rated as one of the best junior teams ever to come out of Cork and if they cross paths with either the defending champions, Shamrock Rovers, or Dart Killester in the final of the ESB Men’s Junior Cup at the ESB Arena tomorrow night, then they could provide the game of the weekend.

WITH an average age of just 17, the Irish U20 women’s basketball team will face a difficult assignment when they travel to Portugal next week for the European championship qualifiers but team manager, Debbie Keane from Cork, feels they have the experience and the firepower to get through.

A 40-63 defeat to Finland has seriously dented the Irish Cadets hopes of qualification to the semi-final round of the European Championships.

The biggest ever international basketball tournament to take place in Ireland begins tomorrow.