Friday 21 October 2016
(BBL CH) Esh Group Eagles Newcastle v Plymouth Raiders, 7:30pm
(BBL CH) Bristol Flyers v Leicester Riders, 7:30pm
(BBL CH) Worcester Wolves v Surrey Scorchers, 7:30pm
(BBL CH) Glasgow Rocks v DBL Sharks Sheffield, 7:30pm
Saturday 22 October 2016
(BBL CH) Surrey Scorchers v Cheshire Phoenix, 7pm
Sunday 23 October 2016
(BBL CH) Plymouth Raiders v Esh Group Eagles Newcastle, 4pm
(BBL CH) Leicester Riders v Leeds Force, 4pm
(BBL CH) Glasgow Rocks v Bristol Flyers, 5pm
(BBL CH) Manchester Giants v London Lions, 5:30pm
(BBL CH) Cheshire Phoenix v Worcester Wolves, 5:30pm
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle v Plymouth Raiders
Details: Friday 21 October, Sport Central, 7:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: Newcastle head into the game on the back of a first league loss last week, while their opponents were dominant at the weekend. Friday’s fixture will be the first of two meetings between the two as they also meet in Plymouth on Sunday.
Last season: Eagles 3-0 Raiders
Drew Lasker, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle guard – “The loss [against London] is just part of the process; with a new team team there will be bumps in the road.
“Plymouth seem stronger than they have been over the past few years. We are expecting them to try to impose their offensive will as they have many threats and coming in with the uttermost confidence after a convincing win over Giants.”
Info pack.
Bristol Flyers v Leicester Riders
Details: Friday 21 October, SGS Wise Arena, 7:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: Leicester Riders are flying high at the top of the BBL Championship and they head down south to take on the Flyers – looking for a seventh consecutive victory. Bristol are 1-2 and have yet to beat Leicester in BBL competition.
Last season: Flyers 0-3 Riders
Taylor King, Leicester Riders forward – “Bristol are a good team – they are athletic and like to run up and down the floor with some good talent on their roster. They are gonna come out strong and are going to compete hard against us.
“I think all we need to do is focus on the defensive end and limit them to one shot, and focus on the scouting report and how we are going to play them and the rest will take care of itself.
Info pack.
Worcester Wolves v Surrey Scorchers
Details: Friday 21 October, University of Worcester Arena, 7:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: Worcester have slipped to three straight defeats since their season-opening victory and the Scorchers will take confidence from breaking their league duck last weekend, although they still possess a troubling 1-6 record.
Last season: Wolves 3-0 Scorchers
Info pack.
Glasgow Rocks v DBL Sharks Sheffield
Details: Friday 21 October, Emirates Arena, 7:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: The two teams met five times last season and the visiting team prevailed on each occasion. Rocks will be hoping that changes and go into the contest on the back of a double-winning weekend on the road, while the Sharks look to get up to .500.
Last season: Rocks 1-2 Sharks (2-3 all comps)
Jonny Bunyan, Glasgow Rocks guard – “Any home game is important for us this year considering we want to be chasing all the championships we can. I think the Sharks will pose as big a threat as they normally do.
“They have kept some of their players from last year who put us out in the Semi-Finals so it will be good to get a win against them at home.”
Info pack.
Surrey Scorchers v Cheshire Phoenix
Details: Saturday 22 October, Surrey Sports Park, 7pm – BBL Championship
Summary: Yet another double-header for the Scorchers and following their visit to Worcester, they host a Cheshire Phoenix side looking to bounce back from their home loss against Leicester. Both teams are currently in the bottom four.
Last season: Scorchers 0-3 Phoenix
Raheem May-Thompson, Cheshire Phoenix forward – “It’s a great opportunity to really show some character, that we can come back from a loss at home against a talented team on the road.
“We want to start with energy and intensity and improve upon that. We’ve showed what we can do when we’re down and fighting back and it’s been great. The next part of it is to put ourselves in a good position so we don’t have to fight back and instead maintain.”
Info pack.
Plymouth Raiders v Esh Group Eagles Newcastle
Details: Sunday 23 October, Plymouth Pavilions, 4pm – BBL Championship
Summary: The return fixture as Plymouth host Newcastle in the second meeting between the twoin two days. Friday’s contest may force some alterations heading into this clash with both teams hoping for a double-winning weekend.
Last season: Raiders 0-3 Eagles
Drew Lasker, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle guard – “The losing team usually makes the most adjustments and it will be great for us to prepare for cup competition formats.
“Plymouth is one of the most toughest places to play in the BBL when you consider the traveling and great home support from the fans. If we come out 2-0, it would be massive for our team.”
Leicester Riders v Leeds Force
Details: Sunday 23 October, Leicester Sports Arena, 4pm – BBL Championship
Summary: It was a night to forget last week for Leeds as they suffered a 64-point loss at the hands of the league leaders but Leicester will not be taking anything for granted as they aim to be 8-0 come Sunday evening.
Season record: Riders 1-0 Force
Taylor King, Leicester Riders forward – “Leeds is also another good team with good talent, and they’re not just going to come into our home court and lay down and give us the game that’s for sure.
“We need to forget that game last weekend and focus on what we need to do to and how we need to play in order to win this game. It will be nice to be back on our home court after playing on the road quite a few times this month as well.”
Info pack.
Glasgow Rocks v Bristol Flyers
Details: Sunday 23 October, Emirates Arena, 5pm – BBL Championship
Summary: Both teams return to action following Friday’s fixtures and it’s the Rocks who have enjoyed the better of the head-to-head with seven wins from eight encounters.
Last season: Rocks 3-0 Flyers
Jonny Bunyan, Glasgow Rocks guard – “Against Bristol we have to try and stay disciplined against them because that’s what they do well. They have a good structure and are always well prepared so if we deviate from our plan that’s when they can be dangerous.”
Info pack.
Manchester Giants v London Lions
Details: Sunday 23 October, Trafford Sportsdome, 5:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: It’s been a contrasting start for the two teams with Manchester without a win in four league games, while the Lions are off to a great start with four wins from four in all competitions.
Last season: Giants 1-2 Lions
Nigel Lloyd, London Lions head coach – “Manchester will be a tough game and they will give it their best shot. They beat us last year and they have their backs agains the wall right now so will want to do well.”
Info pack.
Cheshire Phoenix v Worcester Wolves
Details: Sunday 23 October, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 5:30pm – BBL Championship
Summary: This is the second meeting between the two sides this season after Worcester claimed an 88-85 overtime win on the opening night of the season.
Season record: Phoenix 0-1 Wolves
Raheem May-Thompson, Cheshire Phoenix forward – “Worcester are a talented team, we know that when we play then it’s going to be a hard fought game.
“We’ve played them and unfortunately didn’t get the result we had hoped for. This time they come to us – the support we get at home is overwhelming so I’m sure we will put pressure on them and make it difficult for them to play in our house.”