2015-2016 National Cup and Play-off Runners up Reading Rockets will begin their 2016-2017 campaign with a trip to the south coast on Saturday 17th September to take on Worthing Thunder in their first pool game of the National Trophy (7.30pm tip-off). The Berkshire outfit will then not be in competitive action until they host newly promoted Solent Kestrels on Sunday 2nd October at their regular home venue, Rivermead Leisure Complex in their second National Trophy match-up (5pm tip-off). Rockets will start their league campaign the following week with a trip to Hertfordshire to take on neighbours Hemel Storm on Saturday 8th October (7pm tip-off) in their first Division One game of the regular season. The Reading team will enter the National Cup at the third round stage this season when they will host a Division 3 or 4 team at one of their training venues before welcoming Derby Trailblazers to one of their new venues this term at Bohunt School in Wokingham on Saturday 15th October, 6pm tip-off.
Other notable fixtures during the season include a three game road trip in November against Team Northumbria, Bradford Dragons, and Essex Leopards in NBL Division One before a BBL Trophy clash at home to Bristol Flyers on Sunday 8th January 2017 just after the Christmas break sandwiched between home games to current champions Manchester Magic and rivals Hemel Storm. Rockets will complete their season with a further three home games against Worthing Thunder, Team Northumbria, and newly-promoted Loughborough Student Riders before what could be a decisive game against Manchester Magic on the final day of the season on Saturday 25th March at the Amaechi Basketball Centre.
Play-off action will take centre stage during April with the finale taking place on Sunday 23rd April at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester with the Rockets looking to go one better this season after last year’s defeat to quadruple winners, Manchester Magic.
The Rockets have almost completed their roster for the 2016-2017 campaign and are awaiting the arrivals of their two new American signings Chris Hooper and Craig Ponder. The Berkshire club also has Spanish point guard Juan Valerio on trial for the next month with a view to a permanent signing as the Reading team looks to win their first piece of silverware since their league success in the 2013-2014 season in Rockets Head Coach Manuel Peña Garcés’ first term at the club.
For full details of the Rockets fixture list and to keep up to date with all the latest new and information, visit the club’s website www.readingrockets.co.uk and follow on Twitter @rocketsreading.
