Eagles push Lions all the way in capital All-Star contest
BASKETBALL’S equivalent of cricket’s T20 blast arrived in the UK with Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Productions bringing their support to the sport.
The competition, featuring the top eight from last season’s BBL Championship, was unchartered territory, with golden-buzzer power-plays, 12-minute games, five-point shooting lines, running clocks and no freethrows the main rule changes to contend with.
At the end of the day, perhaps it was fitting the hometown London Lions took the honours and became the inaugural winners of the Betway All-Star Basketball Championship.
Almost as fitting was the fact it was Esh Group Eagles Newcastle who were the runners-up.
Fab Flournoy’s men recovered from a terrible start in their opening game to win their next three games and make the final. Along the way they served up some of the most exciting games and results in what was a successful tournament.
In the first game against Bristol, an early Jaysean Paige bucket gave the Eagles the lead but the helterskelter style of the competition took its toll early on as Bristol seemed the more composed and organised as Newcastle never quite hit their straps.
The Flyers took a deserved win, which put the Eagles into an elimination game against Glasgow Rocks with the loser going home and the winner having another chance to progress.
Double-overtime was required with extra periods only a minute long, and the Eagles came through in that final 60 seconds to win with an emphatic Terry Martin dunk, to send Fab Flournoy’s men into a shoot-out against Sheffield Sharks.
That game was controlled by the Eagles in the way they wanted too.
The irrepressible Nimley and the scoring of Paige earned a semi-final clash against Leicester Riders, with the Eagles winning through.
In the final both teams played their golden buzzer at crucial times but it was Lions who just held sway.
With the Eagles down six inside the last 20 seconds, Paige banked in a five which cut the gap to one point – but London held on.