Basketball: ESB Men's Superleague weekend preview

The ESB Men’s Superleague resumes action this weekend and it’s still pretty tight at the top in one of the closest-fought campaigns of recent seasons.

Thu, 08 Nov, 2001 - 16:51

The ESB Men’s Superleague resumes action this weekend and it’s still pretty tight at the top in one of the closest-fought campaigns of recent seasons.

Frosties Tigers, who many had tipped as unbeatable prior to the season, have now lost three games in-a-row and the results so far seem to indicate that every team is capable of beating each other.

Here is the game by game preview:

ESB Men’s Superleague:

Hibernian UCD Marian v Esat Business Demons,

Marian went top of the table last weekend courtesy of their two extra games played. But their hold on the position will slip if they don’t score a win over Demons.

While defeat would probably not dent their position near the top, due to the number of games played, it will knock them back to a 5:4 record. Trevor Smullen will be presented with his ESB Player of the Month award for October prior to the game.

Demons come into the game following their second defeat of the season

when they traveled to Waterford on Wednesday night. Shane Coughlan, who

has been on form for the Demons this season, is a worry due to a

persistent ankle injury picked up in their win over Tralee last week.

Frosties Tigers Tralee v St. Vincent’s

Tralee come into the game after their third consecutive loss away to

Neptune on Wednesday night. The two next meet in Tralee on December 9 in

the ESB Cup quarter-finals.

Rikardo Leonard was rested for the game against Neptune and it is

uncertain if he will be fit to play on Saturday night.

St Vincent’s come into this game after possibly one of their worst

performances of the past few seasons. Despite leading comfortably at

half time, Vincent’s lost out by 24pts in the end to their local rivals

after a second half performance which saw them struggle to convert any

chances at all.

Abbey Foods Sligo v Waterford Crystal

Sligo have had a run of good fortune of late and after losing their first three games on the trot, they have got their league campaign back on track despite being hit by a number of key injuries.

Their big cup win over Marian gave them the confidence boost they needed and they have won their last three games to move them up to 10th in the table and a 3:3 record.

Sligo only won three games in total last season, so if they can keep their winning ways on track, they are certainly on the way to a much improved league form this season.

Dart Killester v Gleneagle Lakers

The reigning champions need a win this weekend if they are to push towards the top of the table. New Coach Jerome Westbrooks has had a dream start with two consecutive wins (over Towers and Star) to move Killester from a terrible 1:2 record to a 3:2 record and eighth spot in the table.

Still, the champions have it all to do if they are to remain realistic

title challengers, and Westbrooks knows his side cannot afford to lose

their home games. His side is boosted this weekend by the return of

point guard Jonathan Grennell.

Lakers were the latest team to fall foul of the coaches virus this week when Bill Regan became the fourth coach since the season tip-off to resign his post.

Regan, who resigned for health reasons, is replace at the helm by Robbie

Turner.

SX3 Star v Tolka Rovers

Star still have three Cat 2 players on their books, Deric McGhee sat out last week but coach Danny Fulton is remaining tightlipped on what partnership he will line out against in-form Tolka Rovers.

The good news for Star, who are languishing at the bottom of the table with a 1:5 record is that Ger Ryan, who had to be stretchered off last week against Killester with a suspected back injury, was cleared with just severe bruising and was not seriously injured. However, he remains a doubt for this game.

Tolka Rovers announced a new coaching team of Gerry Byrne and Mark

Kiernan to replace Eoin McKeown, while Liam Maguire is back after two

weeks out.

ESB Men’s Superleague fixtures

Saturday, November 10, 2001

Venue Time Home Away

UCD 20:10 Hibernian UCD Marian v Esat Business Demons

Tralee SC 19:45 Frosties Tigers Tralee v St Vincent’s

Sligo SC 20:15 Abbey Foods Sligo v Waterford Crystal

IWA 20:30 Dart Killester v Gleneagle Lakers

Neptune Stadium 20:00 Neptune v Tyrone Towers

NBA 19:30 Big Al’s Notre Dame v Burger King Limerick