GAME PREVIEW: Glasgow Rocks vs Everton Tigers, Friday 16th April 2010.
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Everton Tigers will be looking to level the all time series between them and Glasgow Rocks, as well as gain a valuable win in their quest to finish as high as possible, and grab a home Play-off berth, when they welcome the Rocks on Friday evening. The Rocks meanwhile, will want to make it a clean sweep against the Tigers, their only loss against Tony Garbelotto's side being back in February in the BBL Trophy Quarter Finals, when they went down 87-88 in a thrilling encounter.
With the way that the ladder is coming along, the Rocks and Tigers may well find themselves playing eachother in the first round of the Playoffs on the 25th April in Kelvin Hall.
Both sides go into the game having won four out of their last six contests, and Garbelotto is ready for a tough challenge: 'They (the Rocks) have great balance, but as always you have to defend Rob Yanders and Jesse Sapp. Sterling (Davis) was at his very best the last time we played as well' he said: 'This is a big game for us and we will be treating it as a play off game.' The Londoner also feels sure that his side, who feature the likes of former league MVP Trey Moore, will be feared come Play-off time: 'I am just concentrating on winning these last two games' he added: 'We have not been in control of our own destiny for the past two weeks, so it is important for us to just concentrate on winning these remaining two games and getting to the level of play we know we will need to win in the play offs. I am sure that there are teams out there who do not want to face us.'
Whereas the Tigers could finish anywhere between places four and six, the Rocks are now one of only three sides that are guaranteed a home Play-off fixture, as they have now sealed third place with their win over Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders last weekend. Rocks player-coach, Sterling Davis, was particularly pleased with the play of star guard duo, Rob Yanders and Jessie Sapp, in that game: 'Rob and Jessie played off each other very well this last game with their dribble-drive attack, which opened up the floor for other guys to get in great positions for shots' explained the American: 'Gareth Murray played a great game on both ends of the floor. He's that guy you never have to get on defensively.'
Moving forward to the Tigers game, Davis added the following: 'I think we match-up pretty well. We are both a pretty balanced team with guys who can play multiple positions. Trey Moore is the main catalyst that drives them, and we have to focus on limiting his productivity.'
Posted on 14 April, 2010
