Rockets to open Trophy and League campaigns with double header weekend
Reading Rockets will open their National Trophy and NBL Division One campaigns this weekend when they entertain last season’s play-off champions Kent Crusaders on Saturday evening (6pm tip-off) before welcoming newly-promoted Lancashire Spinners to Reading on Sunday (5pm tip-off) with both games at the Rivermead Leisure Complex. Rockets started the season last weekend in the National Cup with a comprehensive win against NBDL side Oxford City Hoops winning by 108 points to 52 to advance to the second round.
Saturday’s opponents Kent Crusaders are no strangers to the Reading club as the two teams met on no fewer than five occasions last season with Kent side edging the match-up 3-2 most notably beating the Berkshire team in the play-off quarter-final before going on to win the post season title. Last season’s assistant coach James Vear has taken up the head coaching reigns and brings a wealth of experience from his time in Denmark and with the Great Britain Under 20 set-up and will be looking to get his new-look team challenging once again this year. The Crusaders have started off with an 84-70 defeat in the National Trophy at the hands of Worthing Thunder before comfortably moving into round two of the National Cup with a win against Folkstone Saints by 92 points to 58.
Sunday’s opening NBL Division One opponents Lancashire Spinners are the new team on the block this season and have started life in the top English tier with three wins from three games, two in the National Trophy against Manchester Magic and Team Northumbria and one in the National Cup against the University of Chester. Elite Academies Basketball League (EABL) champions Myerscough College head coach Neil Hopkins was appointed the Spinners new play-caller over the summer and his team boast a wealth of experience in Mike Bernard and Steven Gayle as well as a former junior Rocket Steve Vaughan.
In heading into this weekend’s double header, Rockets Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces knows this will be his teams first big test of the season but will be hoping to have a fully fit team in preparation for two tough games. The Spanish technical director said,
“This weekend is the first true test for us and will be against two of the top teams this season I am sure. Last Sunday we were able to get lots of players some court time as well as increase confidence and work on some of the areas we have been focusing on in practice. We showed some really good spells against Oxford but there is still a lot of work to do but I am really happy with the roster this year and feel there is some exciting times ahead for this team.”
“The two opponents we face this weekend are excellent teams and very well coached. We had some great battles against Kent last season and now James (Vear) has stepped up to be head coach I am sure this will be the same. Lancashire have started really well and have some excellent talent and won’t want their run to stop, and with it being the first Division One game both teams will want to open their account with a win so we are expecting two really tough tests but we are also really looking forward to playing.”
Rockets go into their first double header weekend of the season with some good news in regards to American guard/forward D’Montre Edwards. The 23 year old has only played in one pre-season friendly but will be available again after a hamstring injury forced him out of the games against London Lions and Team USA Select as well as last Sunday’s win against Oxford City Hoops. The only thorn in Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces side is the unavailability of his two Spanish junior players Fidel Gomez de Enterria and Ibu Jassey Demba who are still waiting on FIBA clearance.
Rockets will be looking to improve on last season’s exit from the National Trophy at the group stages as well as fifth place in NBL Division One so be sure to come and support the five times National Trophy winners and three times NBL Division One champions this weekend at the Rivermead Leisure Complex.
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