REIGNING champions, 11890 Killester, got their defence of the Nivea for Men SuperLeague title back on track on Saturday night with an emphatic 100-86 win over UCC Demons.

MARK SCANNELL has been through derby games as a player and a coach and is the first to admit there will be very little between the sides when Bord Gáis Neptune and UCC Demons clash in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague at Neptune Stadium tonight.

THERE were perfect results for new coaches, Darren O’Neill and Mark Scannell, as the reigning NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague champions, 11890 Killester, Bord Gais Neptune, got the new basketball season under way.

KILLESTER retained their Nivea for Men Superleague title following a classic final win over Bord Gáis Neptune at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.

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.

Irish Senior Men basketball coach Jay Larranaga has today named his squad ahead of the start of their European qualifiers on Saturday, August 15.

THE first leg of the semi-finals in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague provided a mild shock for UCC Demons who had to settle for a draw (78-78) at the end of a storming come-back by UCD Marian at Belfield but there was no such problem for the other favourites, DART Killester, who overwhelmed Neptune (85-63) at Neptune Stadium.

KIERAN DONAGHY had his first full training session with defending champions Abrakebabra Tigers in Tralee on Tuesday but coach Mark Bernsen does not expect him to play a part in their opening Nivea for Men Superleague game at home to UCD Marian on Saturday night.

First up tonight, DART Killester face ROMA St Vincent’s in a crucial tie at the top of the Northern Conference in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague at 9pm.

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 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.

TRALEE TIGERS are determined to build on their confidence-boosting victory in Limerick last Monday when they travel to UCD tomorrow in week four of basketball’s NIVEA for Men SuperLeague.