“We don’t plan on giving up our title without a fight,” stated Griffith College Swords Thunder head coach, Dave Baker, as he looked ahead to the opening game of the Hula Hoops Pat Duffy National Cup this weekend which sees eight of the 12 men’s Super League teams in action.
The reigning cup champions will take on DCU Saints at the ALSAA on Saturday evening in a one-off clash that will see the winner advance to the quarter-finals the first weekend of December.
“We’re really excited to be opening our Cup campaign against DCU this weekend and beginning the defence of our title,” Baker continued. “Current league form means nothing - when it comes to results in the Cup, there are no easy games.”
Elsewhere, Black Amber Templeogue will be hoping that they can do enough when they welcome an in-form Belfast Star to Oblate Hall on Saturday evening, while KUBS go head-to-head with UCC Demons. On Sunday, all eyes will be on Galway for the local derby battle between Moycullen and Maree, with the latter hoping to cause a major upset to progress on in the Cup.
In the Men’s Division One meanwhile, the opening round of the Hula Hoops Men’s President’s Cup also gets underway this weekend, with Cup holders, Neptune set to do battle with IT Carlow Basketball.
“Carlow is one of the toughest gyms in the country to play in,” admitted Neptune head coach, Paul Kelleher. “They are playing at a high level at the moment and scoring in bunches. We know that we will have to be at our best defensively and offensively. This is an encounter that we have to be tactically and mentally ready for.”
Meanwhile it’s another busy weekend of games in the Women’s Super League this weekend, with Ambassador UCC Glanmire travelling to Galway to take on NUIG Mystics. Mystics come into the game off the back of a tough start to the season which includes losses against IT Carlow Basketball, Courtyard Liffey Celtics and Singleton SuperValu Brunell, while Glanmire made it two wins from two last weekend.
Brunell meanwhile will travel to Leixlip to take on Courtyard Liffey Celtics. Both sides come into the game unbeaten and an interesting battle lies in store as Brunell’s Breana Bey goes head-to-head with Jazmen Boone.
Elsewhere, Portlaoise Panthers travel to Pyrobel Killester, where both sides are hoping to get their first win of the season on the board. IT Carlow Basketball meanwhile – who almost made huge headlines last week following a closely-contested clash with Ambassador UCC Glanmire - will be hoping to improve on that performance and cause an upset against DCU Mercy on Sunday.
In other basketball news this week, the Players and Coaches of the Month for the men’s leagues for the month of September were announced, with Dee Proby (DCU Saints) and Darren O’Neill (Belfast Star) scooping the Men’s Super League player and coach accolades respectively with Matt St Amour (LIT Celtics) and Paul Kelleher (Neptune) claiming the Men’s Division One honours.
Basketball Ireland Fixtures October 21st-23rd
Saturday 21st October 2017
Hula Hoops Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup:
Griffith College Swords Thunder v DCU Saints, ALSAA-Dublin, 18:00;
Black Amber Templeogue v Belfast Star, Oblates, 20:00;
KUBS v UCC Demons, Greendale, 20.00
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super Leagu
UCD Marian v Pyrobel Killester, UCD Sports Centre, 19.00.
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
NUIG Mystics v Ambassador UCC Glanmire, Colaiste Iognaid, 15:00;
Pyrobel Killester v Portlaoise Panthers, IWA-Clontarf, 18:00;
Courtyard Liffey Celtics v Singleton SuperValu Brunell, Leixlip Centre, 19:30;
Hula Hoops Men’s Presidents Cup
LYIT Donegal v Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin, Bishops Field, 15.00
IT Carlow Basketball v Neptune, Barrow Centre, IT Carlow, 16.00
Ballincollig v Dublin Lions, Ballincollig CS, 16.00
Paris Texas Kilkenny v Ulster University Elks, O Loughlin Gaels Gym, 17.00
Portlaoise Panthers v Ej Sligo All Stars, St Mary’s Hall, 17.15
Fr Mathews v LIT Celtics, Colaiste Chriost Ri, 18.00
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1:
Marble City Hawks v Meteors, O Loughlins GAA, 19:00;
Fabplus North West v Fr Mathews, Ballyshannon, 19:30;
Sunday 22nd October 2017
Hula Hoops Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup:
Moycullen v Maree, The Jes, 15.30
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
DCU Mercy v IT Carlow Basketball, DCU Complex, 15:30;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1:
Ulster University Elks v Griffith College Swords Thunder, Ulster University Jordanstown, 15:00;
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League Player of the Month:
Dee Proby (DCU Saints)
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League Coach of the Month:
Darren O’Neill (Belfast Star)
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One Player of the Month:
Matt St Amour (LIT Celtics)
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One Coach of the Month:
Paul Kelleher (Neptune)
