Reading Rockets (15-7) will be looking to secure a top four finish in NBL Division One this weekend when they travel to the north for their final regular season games as they face rivals Team Northumbria (15-7) on Saturday afternoon (4pm tip-off) before matching up against the league\u2019s basement team Lancashire Spinners (0-22) on Sunday afternoon (3.45pm tip-off). Rockets secured their seventh victory on the spin last weekend when they defeated league leaders Team Solent Kestrels, claiming a hard fought 78-66 victory to put themselves in contention for a third place finish. If Rockets finish the season with an equal number of wins as Northumbria and Worthing, they have the head to head over Worthing, who are currently fifth placed (14-=8). The Reading team would need to beat Lancashire Spinners on Sunday should Saturday\u2019s affair not go their way to make sure of a top four finish and a home tie in the quarter-finals of the play-offs, scheduled for Sunday 8th April.<\/p>\n
Rockets have faced both opponents at home already this season in league play securing victories on each occasion. The Reading outfit captured an 84-72 win most recently over Team Northumbria and also comfortably beat Lancashire Spinners 107-67 back in January but face a tough final league double header this coming weekend.<\/p>\n
Head Coach Manuel Pe\u00f1a Garc\u00e9s was really pleased to see his team chalk up win number seven in a row as well as deliver a much improved performance but knows this will mean nothing should his team falter during the final weekend of the regular season. The Spanish play-caller said,<\/p>\n
[su_quote]I am really happy with last weekend\u2019s win against Solent and the players put in a much better performance than in some of our recent successes so this is very positive for us heading into this weekend\u2019s tough double header. Defensively, we were a lot better but know that this can improve further with more work needed on offence for us to really maximise our potential.<\/p>\n
Whilst it is a positive time for us, it is important that we now focus on our game against a very good Team Northumbria this Saturday before we look ahead to Sunday. Sports Central has always been a difficult place to get a win and none more so this weekend with third place on the line for both teams. Preparation for this game will be crucial and if we are able to keep working on being the best version of ourselves and deliver what we know we are capable of then there is no reason why we can\u2019t secure the all important win. We know the talent Coach Mark\u2019s (Steutel, Team Northumbria Head Coach) roster has and there is no doubt he will have them ready to play as he has done so well in past end of seasons. An exciting time and we will be ready![\/su_quote]<\/p>\n
Rockets go into this weekend\u2019s crunch double header with no current injury concerns: however the Under 18 duo of Adrian Nosa Castillo and I\u00f1igo Perez Baena both remain out of action with injury and games themselves. The Reading team could make it nine consecutive wins to finish their campaign and be a real threat in the play-offs as they look to pick up their first piece of silverware in almost four years.<\/p>\n
Follow the Rockets on social media; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – @rocketsreading or check out the club\u2019s website – www.readingrockets.co.uk<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Reading Rockets (15-7) will be looking to secure a top four finish in NBL Division One this weekend when they travel to the north for their final regular season games as they face rivals Team Northumbria (15-7) on Saturday afternoon (4pm tip-off) before matching up against the league\u2019s basement team Lancashire Spinners (0-22) on Sunday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":[],"_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"spay_email":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[162,218,144,210,152,143,142,158],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_1421-news.png?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdDaI5-Ie","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1765,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-face-crucial-double-header-weekend-in-title-race\/","url_meta":{"origin":2742,"position":0},"title":"Rockets face crucial double header weekend in title race","date":"08\/03\/2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets (18-3) will play their penultimate double header of the season this weekend as they entertain relegation threatened Worthing Thunder (6-16) on Saturday evening at their second home venue, Bohunt School (6pm tip-off), before travelling to the capital to take on play-off chasing London Lituanica (9-11) on Sunday afternoon\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Rockets-captain-Danny-Carter-in-action-e1481744454241.png?fit=705%2C352&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1380,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-tip-off-season-against-worthing-thunder-in-the-national-trophy\/","url_meta":{"origin":2742,"position":1},"title":"Rockets tip-off season against Worthing Thunder in the National Trophy","date":"01\/09\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"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). 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Rockets split last weekend\u2019s games but were victorious in their second encounter as they finally stopped the rot of four consecutive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Game Preview"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Liverpool-news.png?fit=700%2C305&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":620,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-looking-to-reach-last-four-of-national-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":2742,"position":3},"title":"Rockets looking to reach last four of National Cup","date":"25\/11\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets will be looking to bounce back from their first NBL Division One league defeat last weekend when they travel to the south coast to take on Worthing Thunder in the National Cup Quarter Final this Sunday, 5pm tip-off at Worthing Leisure Centre. Rockets picked up win number five\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/latest-news-banner_zps8906efc5.jpg?fit=555%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":504,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/preview-rockets-v-kent-crusaders-national-trophy-rockets-v-lancashire-spinners-nbl-division-one%e2%80%8f\/","url_meta":{"origin":2742,"position":4},"title":"Preview: Rockets v Kent Crusaders (National Trophy) \/ Rockets v Lancashire Spinners (NBL Division One)\u200f","date":"22\/09\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"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)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mens Team"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/latest-news-banner_zps8906efc5.jpg?fit=555%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2199,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-basketball-fixtures\/","url_meta":{"origin":2742,"position":5},"title":"Rockets Basketball Fixtures","date":"15\/08\/2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets will open up their 2017-18 season campaign with a trip to last season\u2019s NBL Division Two champions Kent Crusaders on Saturday 23rd September, (tip-off currently to be confirmed), before hosting their play-off conquerors from last season Team Solent Kestrels on Sunday 24th September at Rivermead Leisure complex (5pm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Announcements"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/basketball-court.png?fit=705%2C267&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2742"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2742"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2745,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2742\/revisions\/2745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}