Ballina facing daunting visit to Tigers’ lair in SuperLeague Cup

CHAMPIONS Abrakebabra Tigers will host Merry Monk Ballina at the Tralee Sports Centre in defence of the SuperLeague Cup title the weekend after next in what promises to be the game of the round.

The draw for the quarter-finals was made yesterday at the National Basketball Arena and thew up some mouthwatering ties, with the promise of more to come when the semi-final stages arrive. Neptune, who produced the result of round one by dumping one of the favourites, DCU Saints, out of the competition last weekend, will have to pull off another big result when they travel away to DART Killester.

Limerick Lions, who shocked Merry Monk up in Ballina in the very first round of the SuperLeague, haveestablished themselves as a formidable force this season and will have an interesting assignment when they play host to UCD/Marian. UCC Demons, who relinquished their title to Tigers last year, have done enough this season to indicate they are not too far away from the finished product, and they will have an opportunity to underscore that when they play host to Hoops — cup specialists under another name not so long ago — at the Mardyke Arena.