BASKETBALL:LAST YEAR'S champions UL Eagles welcome Nivea For Men's Superleague debutants, Dublin Inter, to Limerick tomorrow.
While Inter have failed to impress after a stunning opening night win against DCU Saints – having fallen since to three straight losses – they are one of the few teams that will possess the size capable of genuinely competing with Eagles close to the basket.
That considered, Eagles should have too much firepower for the novices and will be looking to keep the pressure on table toppers UCC Demons with a home win that would leave them just one game back in the standings.
Demons, meanwhile, will face the challenge of Killester, who like Inter have stumbled somewhat following an impressive start to the year. They began the season with a highly impressive win over UCD Marian but currently lie towards the bottom of the table after losing three of their last four.
The absence of former star Jermaine Turner has really hurt the team this year and while they have gotten some outstanding play from Eoin Chubb at the guard spot, have not been the usual contending force so often associated with the Killester of seasons past.
Demons, however, are an unsettled team themselves at the moment, having changed their American player last week. The swap of Delwan Graham for Kenton Walker came as a surprise to fans, particularly as Demons were undefeated with Graham the second top scorer in the league.
The club clearly felt they needed more size but the transition almost cost them a game last week as they had to rely on a last second basket to beat Saints in Cork. Killester will hope that Demons suffer similar growing pains this weekend.
The other two games of the weekend see Moycullen of Galway re-enter the fray after a week off as they travel to Dublin to face UCD Marian while Bord Gáis Neptune aim to continue their recent resurgence with a game away to DCU Saints.
In the Nivea Women’s Superleague, fresh off their first loss of the year, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork welcome Ulster Rockets to the Glanmire Sports Centre tomorrow. Two other games tomorrow see WIT Wildcats host Meteors and Liffey Celtics play Singleton SuperValu Brunell.
On Sunday, an old Dublin rivalry is rekindled as DCU Mercy play Killester while UL Basketball Club look to extend their unbeaten run against Ulster Rockets.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday – Men's SuperLeague:UCD Marian v Moycullen, UCD Sports Complex, 7.10; UL Eagles v Dublin Inter, UL Arena, 7.30. Women's SuperLeague: Team Montenotte Hotel Cork v Ulster Rockets, Upper Glanmire Sports Centre, 7.0; WIT Wildcats v Meteors, Mercy College, 7.0; Liffey Celtics v Singleton SuperValu Brunell, Leixlip Centre, 7.30.
Sunday – Men's SuperLeague: UCC Demons v Killester, Mardyke, 3.30; DCU Saints v Bord Gáis Neptune, DCU Complex, 4.0. Women's SuperLeague: DCU Mercy v Killester, DCU Complex, 2.0; UL Basketball Club v Ulster Rockets, UL Arena, 2.0.
