Tigers at Jets – BBL Championship Preview
Sunday 7th October
Cheshire Jets v Mersey Tigers
With Alif Bland touching down from the USA during the week, Jets’ player-coach James Hamilton has finally finished assembling his team
Impressive in the face of defeat to Leicester Riders last Saturday, Hamilton felt his team should have brought home a win instead of an eight point loss.
He is well aware of the similarities between the two North West sides, together with the connections amongst many of the players on both sides. However, it is the uncertainities over the summer period, and getting chance to understand each other’s squads that makes this match-up problematic in preparation, according to the Jets legend.
“It’s strange, because Mersey Tigers are in almost the same situation as us with the late set-up. In terms of our preparation, we have to put to the back of our minds any idea this will be a big victory, and that Mersey will be on the end of a defeat like their were against Heat. They have brought in their new guys too so we expect them to approach the game in a different way.”
Chez Marks, who this week was made co-captain alongside Jets veteran, Shawn Myers, after his 28-point performance at the weekend is ready for the challenge that awaits them from Tigers.
“I know we’re all up for the game against Mersey, we’ve both had big losses, in different ways, and we are prepared for a really tough match.”
“I can’t wait to be back in front of all the Jets fans at the Northgate, but already it feels like I’ve never left, so Sunday will be something else!”
The visiting Mersey Tigers will see the 26 mile trip to their neighbours and rivals as the perfect opportunity to erase the memories of their heavy 106-45 defeat to the Surrey Heat, suffered in their first game of the season.
The opening fixture for the Tigers saw the rebuilding Liverpool squad unable to find their feet in their opening fixture but with the additions of forward, Daniel Pilkington and European guard, Gael Hulsen, the Tigers will be hoping the chemistry demonstrated on Twitter will be replicated on the floor.
The clash also represents an opportunity for former Jet, Ryan Gallagher, to face the club he spent two seasons with while Josh McGinn was a coach at the Jets 2012 summer camp. Chris Bigley, who posted 13 points and six rebounds in his season debut, also has links to the Cheshire Jets.
