“Ireland will always hold a special place in my heart,” reflected Jermaine Turner this week as he gears up for retirement from Irish basketball this coming weekend when Pyrobel Killester travel to DCU Saints for the final game of the regular season on Saturday evening.
Indeed, the game in DCU will be the last opportunity for fans to see one of the greats play basketball on an Irish court, as Turner prepares for his final game before retiring - and what game could possibly be more fitting, as he gears up to line out against a team with whom he also previously enjoyed so many highlights.
A stalwart of the Irish basketball scene, Turner first arrived on the shores of the Emerald Isle back in 2000, and now prepares for a new adventure as he departs for the USA in April.
“It’s kind of strange [to be retiring], but it hasn’t really hit me yet,” Turner said. “I’ve one more game left, so it really hasn’t hit me - it probably won’t until September when I know I’m supposed to be in pre-season and then, I’m not." (Read the full interview with Turner here).
Elsewhere, the battle to avoid relegation from the Super League will tip off at 6pm on Saturday with a showdown between Commercial.ie Éanna and KUBS and, with both teams tied on 15 points apiece, it’s a must win to avoid a relegation play-off.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Men’s Division One and more specifically, Calasanctius College in Oranmore, Co. Galway as the battle for promotion to the Super League reaches its climax. Maree BC will play host to the top two teams from each of the Division One conferences as they go head-to-head in a winner takes all battle across Saturday and Sunday, with the winners not only being crowned Regular Season champions but also earning direct promotion to the Super League for 2017/18.
First up, home side Maree will take on Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin at 2pm on Saturday. Maree – who won the Northern Conference - also have the best record in the League this season with 14 wins and two losses. The sides have met twice this year, with Killorglin winning out by three points in the Cup, and Maree winning by seven more recently in the League.
“We’re looking forward to good quality games this weekend,” said Maree Head Coach, John Finn. “We played well the last time we played them, so we are confident. We were very happy to be crowned Northern Conference winners and now we aim to win the regular season - we have the best record, so I think we deserve it.”
In the other semi-final, BFG Neptune will face Ulster University Elks at 4pm. Cup winners Neptune have won the Southern Conference, topping that table with 13 wins and three losses and a strong points difference. The two sides met recently in the League down in Cork, with Neptune winning 120-72, but Elks Head Coach Pat O’Neill is hoping they can right that result this weekend.
“We’re really excited to be playing Neptune again,” he said. “I felt we didn’t do ourselves justice when we played them a few weeks ago. We are looking forward to getting another shot at them though. They have a young, exciting squad, but if we can establish our tempo, then it will be a much better game.”
The winners of each game will go on to play for promotion at 3pm on Sunday, while elsewhere, the remaining eight teams in the Division will play place classification games.
In the Women’s Super League meanwhile, both Maxol WIT Wildcats and Portlaoise Panthers will be hoping that NUIG Mystics have enough to beat Pyrobel Killester on Saturday afternoon in Galway as the battle for the final spot in the top four comes to a dramatic climax. With all three teams tied on the same points on the table, Killester – who have the head-to-head advantage – play a must-win game against Mystics to guarantee that final spot, as a win in Galway will put Wildcats and Portlaoise – who both play on Sunday against Singleton SuperValu Brunell and DCU Mercy respectively - out of the running.
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
NUIG Mystics v Pyrobel Killester, NUIG Galway, 15:00;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1:
UL Huskies v ITC Basketball, UL Pess Building, 19:00;
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One
Place 1-4 Classification
Maree v Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin, Calasanctius College, 14.00
BFG Neptune v Ulster University Elks, Calasanctius College, 16.00
Place 5-8 Classification
Kestrels v LYIT Donegal, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington, 13.00
Ej Sligo All Stars v Team Kilkenny, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington, 15.00
Place 9-12 Classification
Dublin Lions v ITC Basketball, Barrow Centre, IT Carlow, 13.30
Fr Mathews v Titans, Barrow Centre, IT Carlow, 15.30
Sunday 19th March 2017
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League:
UCC Demons v Belfast Star, Mardyke Arena-Cork, 15:00;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
Singleton SuperValu Brunell v Maxol WIT Wildcats, Parochial Hall, 14:45;
DCU Mercy v Portlaoise Panthers, DCU Complex, 15:30;
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One
Place 1-4 Classification
Runner up 1 vs Runner up 2, Calasanctius College, 12.45
Winner 1 vs Winner 2, Calasanctius College,15.00.
Place 5-8 Classification
Runner up 1 v Runner up 2, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington, 13.00
Winner 1 v Winner 2, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington, 15.00
Place 9-12 Classification
Runner up 1 v Runner up 2, Barrow Centre, IT Carlow, 13.00
Winner 1 v Winner 2, Barrow Centre, IT Carlow, 15.00
