BBL confirms format changes

As Britball revealed earlier this summer, the British Basketball League is to re-jig its format for next season.

The BBL Trophy reverts back to regional group stages for the opening round - with these games played at the beginning of the season (commencing 17th September). The four group winners progress through to the semi final round with both the semi and final rounds of the competition taking place over two legs (aggregate scores) at the competing club venues in the first half of the season.

The BBL Cup format will remain the same as last term with 4 teams receiving a bye from the 1st Round based on their BBL Championship position last season (Newcastle Eagles - 1st, Sheffield Sharks - 2nd, Glasgow Rocks - 3rd & Cheshire Jets - 4th). The opening rounds will be one-off games, with the semi finals contested over two legs (home & away) and decided on aggregate score. The conclusion of the BBL Cup competition will take place in a one-off game at a central venue in January.

The BBL Championship season will begin following the BBL Trophy group stages in early October and the format will remain the same as last season with teams playing each other three times. Teams will each play 33 regular season games, with sides meeting one another once at home, once away, and once home or away. Two league points are awarded for a win, and the top eight teams will progress to the BBL Championship Playoffs in April.

The format for the post-season also sees a minor modification as for 2010-11 both the quarter and semi final rounds are to be played over two legs (home & away) with the higher seed having choice of home advantage in the either the 1st or 2nd leg - aggregate scores will determine the victors. The climax of the season will once again be a single day showpiece event.

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Sheffield Sharks lift BBL Cup

Sheffield Sharks claimed the domestic basketball season's first piece of silverware with a 89-86 victory over Cheshire Jets in the BBL Cup final in Birmingham.

Spurred by 19 points apiece from Mike Cook and Ryan Patton, the league leaders justified their tag as favourites by seizing control in the opening stages and holding off Cheshire's frenetic late rally.

It was an even opening to the game, despite two three-pointers from Sharks' fit-again playmaker Patton. However, it was Cheshire who took the first significant advantage - they enjoyed a 9-2 run to lead 18-11, with threes from James Hamilton and Chez Marks. Sheffield battled back and scored the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 22-18 lead into the second quarter.

Sharks' lead was extended to eight points at 28-20 midway through the second stanza on the back of a Mike Tuck bucket.

However, the quarter proved to be a relatively low scoring affair, as both teams looked to limit their opponents chances. Sheffield pulled out the biggest lead of the half at 37-26, courtesy of seven unanswered points, including a Perry Lawson three-pointer.

Sharks applied the pressure in the third quarter - a 7-2 start saw them leading 48-35, thank in no small part to the scoring of Mike Cook. Jets managed a few long range shots, but ultimately struggled to find their range and Sharks led 64-48 going into the final quarter.

However, the Jets – led by a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds from Hamilton, the final's Most Valuable Player - applied pressure to trim the deficit.

A Colin O'Reilly three-pointer with 1.33 to go saw Jets get back to within three points at 76-79. Tuck pulled Sharks back, before Hamilton and then O'Reilly again cut the gap back to three points.

Paul Peterson had the chance to cut it back to a one-point ball game, but failed to convert his free throws with 26 seconds remaining and with Jets in the penalty they were forced to foul to try to regain possession.

Lawson scored four from four free throws to keep Jets at arms length and while Marks scored twice it was not enough to steal victory.

"It's great to win the first silverware of the season," Atiba Lyons player-coach of the Sharks commented.

"Chester made it tough for us in the final quarter, but we are delighted to get our hands on some silverware."

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Garbelotto calls for Tigers to start showing claws

Everton Tigers coach Tony Garbelotto has insisted his players must show more desire if they want to see off Sheffield Sharks on Friday night and keep alive their ambition to retain the BBL title.

The winners at the EIS will take on Leicester in a two-legged semi-final with the hosts the clear favourites to end the reign of the Mersey outfit.

Garbelotto, who could welcome back Flo Larkai, believes Sheffield's race to the head of the league is no fluke but is still refusing to write off his team's hopes.

“They are the BBL form team at present, but as we have seen if there is one thing you can count on this season it is that nothing is going to for," he said.

“I feel we match up well with them, especially if Flo Larkai comes back from injury. This will be a highly exciting game to watch, I am pretty sure about that'."

He added: “They have one of the best players in the league in Mike Cook, a solid point guard in Ryan Patton and three excellent players in Tafari Toney, Perry Lawson and Atiba Lyons.

“They can score in bunches and have become a very solid defensive team. Atiba Lyons has done a great job with this team and their confidence is sky high.”

Everton go into the tie after a mixed set of results from last weekend as a defeat of London Capital was followed by a damaging  loss against the Glasgow Rocks, which left their coach furious.

Garbelotto added: “I was not happy with the whole weekend. We looked out of sorts in both games.

The Capital game was a good win against an improved side, and I was able to give both Dani Gonzalez and Darrell Bethune major minutes, which they have worked hard to get and deserved.

“Sunday was again one of those games that you would like to forget. We were up ten points at half time and we ended up losing by fifteen. They just wanted to win more than us and that is something that I cannot accept.”