🏀 BBL. Glasgow Rocks welcome Cheshire Phoenix to the Emirates Arena with the home side hot favourites to continue their recent excellent form. Tip-off is 5pm and tickets are available online.
Glasgow Rocks have been on the up since they started last December with a memorable 92-80 victory over then leaders Newcastle Eagles and followed it up with a crushing 111-57 win over Leeds Force. Those results have acted as a catalyst for a run of form that has taken the Rocks up to third place in the BBL table (see below for an introduction to the BBL) level on points with the aformentioned Newcastle Eagles who are second on points difference.
Visitors Cheshire Phoenix have not enjoyed the best of seasons so far although they remain in the hunt for a top eight finish and a place in the play-offs. Given they also won the last match between the teams (see below) Glasgow Rocks will not be taking the Phoenix threat lightly this evening.
Previous meeting: A first round BBL Trophy encounter last December at Cheshire Oaks Arena. Phoenix taking the spoils courtesy of a 79-75 victory.
👀 One to watch: The evergreen Kieron Achara who put in a captain’s performance for Scotland last weekend (ironically against a Rocks select side) netting a game-high 21 points. Achara will be leading Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games next month but before that is key player on the club stage for Glasgow Rocks in their push for BBL honours.
🏀 Tip-off is at 5pm.
🎟️ Tickets in advance are available via the ‘Get Tickets’ link.
🎟️ Tickets on the day subject to availability. Checking the Glasgow Rocks Twitter feed before travelling is recommended.from the box office at the Emirates Arena on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is recommeded.
🚊🚗 Travel tips: 🚊 🚗 Travel tips: Dalmarnock railway station is a 5-10 minute walk from the Emirates Arena. Services at this station run regularly all day on Monday to Saturday on the Argyle Line through Glasgow Central Low Level, on Sunday there is a limited service. The main car park is on the left and there is an overflow car park on the right. Note: At major events the car park can get very busy.
About the BBL: The British Basketball League (BBL) is the top men’s professional league in the UK. Running from September to May the primary competition is the BBL Championship in which all 12 BBL teams play each other three times over the course of the season. London Lions are the current champions. At the end of the regular season the top eight teams in the BBL Championship progress to the BBL Championship Play-offs. The BBL Championship is considered the primary competition and its winner the number one team that season.
There are two knock-out competitions that run alongside the BBL Championship. The BBL Trophy in which the BBL clubs are joined by guest clubs in a straight knockout competition culminating in the BBL Trophy Final and the BBL Cup which is a straight knock-out competition involving just the BBL clubs which culminates in the BBL Cup Final.
The top eight teams at the end of the current BBL season also qualify for the British Basketball All-Stars Championship. Taking place in October 2020 it features multiple 12-minute games, an All-Star 5-point line and Golden Buzzer Power Play in a non-stop afternoon of fast-paced basketball action.
The BBL teams for season 2019/2020 are Bristol Flyers, Cheshire Phoenix, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Newcastle Eagles, Leicester Riders, London City Royals, London Lions, Manchester Giants, Plymouth Raiders, Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks , Surrey Scorchers and Worcester Wolves.
(BBL information courtesy of the British Basketball League website).
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