The Friday BBL Preview: 13th December 2013

On this unluckiest of days, we find out who will be the more fortunate side to progress to the final of the BBL Cup, as well as a rescheduled game in the BBL Championship.

Sharks @ Eagles (7:30pm tip-off BBL Cup)

Sheffield Sharks travel to Sport Central with a slender advantage of three points going in to this second leg semi-final with the Newcastle Eagles.

The winner over the two legs faces a date with Leicester Riders at the NIA in Birmingham next month, and for Newcastle Eagles’ player-coach Fab Flournoy, speaking to Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle today, he feels this fixture tonight could be the crossroads for their season.

Captain of the Sheffield Sharks, Mike Tuck, knows what lies in store for him and his team-mates tonight, and is prepared for the way in which Eagles normally come out of the blocks early in today’s article with the Sheffield Star.

Either way – tonight’s game looks set to be an incredible encounter between the two table topping teams, but getting to the final is only the start of an even bigger challenge ahead.

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United @ Wolves (7:30pm tip-off)

This is the rearranged fixture from the 15th November, which saw Surrey United unable to make the venue in enough time for the game to be played at a reasonable hour.

The postponement may have helped Paul James’ Worcester Wolves in putting to bed the Leicester Riders the following Saturday night, and now sees them fighting it out for top spot in the BBL Championship coming into Christmas.

For Surrey United however, the story seems to be getting worse by the week. American imports were promised, those expected to fly in this week still have not arrived, and head coach Jack Majewski admitted on local radio that they were not due in any time soon, despite claims after last weekend’s defeat at Cheshire Phoenix that at least one new arrival would be joining up.

This may again be damage limitation, but dependant on the performance of Brandon McGill once more – who suffered playing with concussion last Sunday at the Northgate Arena just 48 hours after a bad knock away at Newcastle Eagles.

A victory here would put Wolves clear at the top, whilst consigning Surrey to a 0-14 record.