2024 begins with a bang as Reading Rockets welcome the Essex Rebels to Loddon Valley on Sunday 7th in the NBL Cup Semi-Final. Rockets look to confirm their spot in this year’s NBL Cup final as they continue their hunt for silverware, making this second Semi-Final Reading have made this season, though this time they will surely look to go a step beyond and head to Manchester.
In a fixture with a lot of history already this season, the Rockets will face off against a talented young Rebels squad for the fourth time this season. Seeing them off in the pre-season and KitKing Trophy, while seeing their unbeaten streak cut short in the league, these are two teams who are already very familiar with each other this season.
Rebels, who sit top of the NBL with a 9-1 record will be no easy task for the Rockets, with a talented fresh roster looking eager to claim their first trophy of the season. With the introduction of players like Luke Busumbru, Victor Olarerin and Trey Chapman, alongside club stalwarts of the Winter brothers, this new Rebels squad have been a force, and look worthy of top spot.
In their last outing against the Rebels, Reading saw their unbeaten league run cut to an end in a nail biting fixture, which saw Aussie Mitch Clarke drop 31. Rockets will see this Sunday as a chance to extract their revenge and make their first finals since the 2020/21 season, which saw them lose to the Solent Kestrels in the NBL Cup.
Both teams head into this fixture in good form, sitting in the top 4 of the league and eager to start the new year with a win. Tickets are still available for this game as the Rockets fans look to pack out Loddon Valley for what will be an immense spectacle of basketball.
Tickets available here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/men-semi-finals-national-cup-reading-rockets-vs-essex-rebels-tickets-775740830707
