Paternostro praises ‘really special group in the locker room’
LEICESTER Riders completed a sensational treble, adding the BBL play-off final to the BBL Championship and BBL Cup titles, before a British Basketball club record crowd of 16,500 at The O2 on Sunday.
It meant Riders have won the season finale at the O2 four times in succession and have been in the final at the venue for five consecutive years, in an unmatched period of dominance.
But they were made to work for it by a powerful London Lions side which lived up to the pre-season hype and pushed one of the greatestever Riders sides to the limit.
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro made the big calls when it mattered, fully earning his BBL Coach of the Year status in a thrilling match that went down to the wire. Star guard Geno Crandall, who made the big baskets down the stretch, intercepted a long pass by the Lions in the final seconds, as the Londoners looked for a big shot to tie the game and take it to overtime.
Paternostro was delighted with the way his team performed on the big stage.
He said: “What a game! All nine Riders players who played made their contribution, like they have done all season. I’m so proud of the guys.
“I told them at the start of the season they’d look back and tell their kids about this team. It truly is a really special group in the locker room.
“I think the Lions are the best team outside of us, so it is very satisfying, both teams went at it hard, and it was an incredible finish to the game.
“This team is up there with the best. They came in at the start of the season and have been all business.
“They came together, made the necessary sacrifices and worked incredibly hard. The support they have had all season from our fans and the Leicester community has been tremendous.
“This final will live long in the memory.”
Crandall said after the play-off final: “It must’ve been a great game to watch. We were fortunate to play our game well at the end, when it mattered.
“We’ve had different guys step up at different times and my time came at the end of the game. I was able to get some really good looks, those shots that didn’t go in earlier, but did go in later.
“We got in a lot of good positions and thankfully I was able to do my thing when it mattered most.
“I think as the game goes on the playbook gets a little shorter, we make a few less passes and get the ball in your best players’ hands.”