Neptune and Ballincollig basketballers can grab two big Super League wins on the road
Neptune's Chancellor Hunter jumps to shoot at the basket during the Men's Superleague game with Belfast Star. Picture: David Creedon
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig and Energywise Ireland Neptune are on the road this weekend with both hoping to gain important wins in the men’s Super League.
Ballincollig coach Antonio Lopez will be delighted with the double wins on the road last weekend when accounting for Eanna and Maree.
At the start of the campaign, Ballincollig looked a side lacking in the physicality stakes but in recent games, they have shown more mettle in defence.
American Jake Wolfe to be fair has been a warrior all season and although he only chipped in with five points in their win at Maree he finished with a game-high 28 against Eanna. Wolfe is also dogged in defence and in truth is one of the hardest-working Americans in the league.
Fellow American Quashawn Lane is also setting into life at Ballincollig and is a safe pair of hands at the point. Bosman Joshua Tomaic had a slow start to the season but is now gradually showing a cutting edge to his game in defence.
In the Maree win he also chipped in with 18 points and a similar performance will be expected from him against Bright St Vincent’s tomorrow. The Dublin side put it up to championship favourites Killester last weekend and will no doubt pose Ballincollig problems if they are not ready for battle.
Charlie Coombes is a decent Irish player with good experience of playing in this league.
It was a good weekend for the Ballincollig Irish players and if they can put in similar performances against St Vincent’s another win looks on the cards for the Leesiders.
Energywise Ireland Neptune looked a very poor outfit in their last two home games against Killester and Belfast Star before getting back to winning ways against Templeogue on Sunday last.
Tomorrow Neptune travel to play Maree and if playing to their ability they should have too much firepower for their Galway opponents.
So, from a team that were being touted as potential championship contenders Neptune now themselves with seven defeats and are out of the Pat Duffy National Cup.
Last season Neptune started with Colin O’Reilly as coach but after some poor performances, he parted ways with the Blackpool club.
In stepped Paul Kelleher and the original American pairing also left. A new duo arrived in Cork the performances got gradually worse in a poor season.
This season Neptune looked to the experience of Price to try and guide them to the Holy Grail but the first half of the season has been very disappointing.
American Ar’mond Davis departed the club without any consultation, and he was replaced by Chance Hunter who has done relatively well since his arrival.
The second Neptune American Jahmal Wright is a wholehearted player but is he the type of professional they need to bring them to the next level?
Bosman Jaksa Sola has been a huge disappointment as he missed a number of games through injury and looking at him in the recent loss to Star, he gave away cheap fouls that saw him only play 22 minutes.
In that period, he contributed 13 points and as a professional, he should know that sitting on the bench is not helping his team.
Catalonian ace Nil Sabata had probably a season-best with 19 points against Star but is not consistently doing the business at either end of the floor.
The total contribution from the Irish contingent against Star was a mere 17 points and that tally will not help win you many games.
Maree are now a club that could end up relegated and it's worth noting star American Jarrett Haines has departed, giving Neptune every chance of securing the points.
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