Troubled Glanmire won’t be shown any Mercy
It has been a tough fortnight for the Cork side with new American player Adily Martucci embroiled in an eligibility furore.
Coach Mark Scannell still doesn’t know when the findings of Basketball Ireland’s National Appeals committee will be disclosed.
Scannell said: “It’s been a tough period for my players as the eligibility of American Adily Martucci was questioned but I am not going to comment at this stage until the NAC announce their verdict on our two appeals.”
Looking ahead to the DCU game, Scannell believes his side will need to produce a season best performance to have a chance of competing with the Dublin side.
“We have already played and lost to DCU Mercy in Dublin and to be fair they are the form team in the league at this present time.”
The mood in the DCU camp is positive but coach Mark Ingle warns his players to expect a backlash from Glanmire.
Ingle said: “I think over the last decade Glanmire have been a credit to Irish basketball and when we play them they are always close encounters. I don’t think this game will be any different.”
In the Men’s Super League, UCC Demons, fresh from their midweek win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the National Cup, travel to play Griffith Swords Thunder.
The Cork side had to battle hard, but their scoring average was low, and they will need to improve dramatically to gain maximum points from this game.
Swords Thunder have been a little inconsistent this season, but coach Dave Baker knows this is a crucial game if his team’s title bid is to remain on track.
Baker said: “It is very simple, we cannot afford to lose another game in this campaign if we are to be vying for championship honours.”
Leaders UCD Marian should have little problem in disposing of basement side Kubs whose coach Mark Ingle resigned this week.
Templeogue defeated fellow Dublin side Eanna in the cup last week and the teams square up again tomorrow.
Eanna pushed Templeogue to the wire and coach Pat Glover believes his team have the capabilities to match up again. He said: “The cup defeat was disappointing, but the bottom line is we have to go at it again and hopefully we can produce a similar performance.”
Moycullen surprisingly lost heavily at home to Killester last week and the teams go head-to-head again tomorrow at the Jes in Galway.
Moycullen coach John Cunningham was disappointed with his team’s performance in the cup defeat and is urging his players to increase the tempo in this game.
Cunningham said: “The bottom line is that we need league points as the cup chapter is now firmly closed.”
Belfast Star host DCU Saints on the back of a comfortable win over Maree.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors looked deflated after their midweek loss to UCC Demons in the cup and they will need to be sharper when they host Galway side Maree.
In the Women’s Super League, champions Liffey Celtics shouldn’t have too much problems taking maximum points when they host Portlaoise Panthers.
WIT Wildcats will have to produce a season-best to dispose of Killester.
In the Men’s Division 1 National League leaders Killorglin travel north to play Ulster Elks.
The big game in Cork between Fr Mathew’s and Neptune could well go to the wire when they clash at Colaiste Chriost Rí.
