Rocks dealt in for All Stars TV event

GLASGOW ROCKS have been handed a date at London’s O2 Arena after boxing and darts impresario Barry Hearn launched a new tournament featuring the British Basketball League’s leading teams as well as a parallel showpiece for netball.

The All Stars Basketball event, backed by Hearn’s Matchroom organisation, will be held on September 24 as the curtain raiser to the new BBL campaign with a £100,000 prize pot on the line – with the winners taking £25,000.

It is understood the made-for-TV format, to be screened by Sky Sports, will include the top eight finishers in this season’s league and incorporate shortened-format games.

And it will form part of a doubleheader with a similar netball shootout taking place on the previous day.

“The popularity of basketball and netball is at an all-time high right now,” said Hearn. “We want to bring this right to the fore with a massive weekend at The O2. By combining the expertise of Matchroom and Sky Sports with those of England Netball, we know that we are embarking on something special.

“It’s also about encouraging participation. Both sports are continuing to grow at a rapid rate and for that to continue we must encourage people young and old to get out there and try these exciting sports. We want to help with this by bringing both basketball and netball centre-stage for one huge weekend.”