United star’s fitness race to go to the wire

FLOURNOY LAYS DOWN GAUNTLET AFTER FAB START TO BBL SEASON

FAB Flournoy has told his Newcastle Eagles charges he expects them to maintain their “relentlessness” after their electrifying start to the season.

Having won all five games they have played this season, Flournoy’s men have emerged as the early BBL Championship pace-setters.

The Eagles have also looked like they are back to their best, breaking the 100point barrier in their last four contests.

Despite a summer of change once again, the new roster has clicked together well and is causing serious problems for BBL defences.

And with chief title rivals and reigning BBL Championship holders Leicester Riders set to visit Sport Central a week tomorrow, Flournoy has challenged his side to maintain the early standards they have set themselves for the rest of the season.

He said: “We’re producing some great team performances and showing what we’re capable of when we’re all on the same page. “That level of intensity and relentlessness is what we’re aiming for now.”

In recent seasons, the Eagles have struggled to transform some fantastic individual talents into a cohesive and consistent unit.

Newcastle’s successes in the Flournoy era have been built on a solid foundation of tight defence and team chemistry. With former Eagles Rahmon Fletcher (pictured left) and Eddie Matthew re-joining Flournoy, captain Darius Defoe and the everreliable Drew Lasker, the club now has a core who are familiar and comfortable working in that system.

But perhaps more important has been the willingness of new players – mostly rookies – to buy into the Eagles’ fundamental concepts.

Victor Moses has been something of a doubledouble machine, averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds so far.

He has also formed an exceptional partnership with twotime league MVP Fletcher, adding that the point guard is “a lot of fun to play with”. And guard Jeremy Smith, despite signing with the club after the start of the season, is also impressing as he has averaged 21 points per game so far.

But with so much of the season still to go, Flournoy has warned his players they cannot rest on their laurels in the BBL, especially after the disappointment of not winning a trophy at all last year. He added: “We know we’re capable of it (continuing to win and play at a high level), we need to make sure we keep on producing it on a consistent basis.

“We will need that consistency this season as there will be no easy games.”