Cork basketball: Ballincollig and Fr Mathew's have lost form with playoffs looming

The final countdown, or Super League Saturday, will decide which teams compete in the quarter-final playoffs next weekend.

Looking at the Men’s Super League, UCC Demons are safe after finishing as regular season champions and they are due to host the eighth team in the table that at this present time is not nailed down.

Many in Neptune Stadium last week were convinced that the Blackpool outfit had done enough to seal a play-off berth but that may change if they fail to defeat Sligo All Stars this evening. If Belfast Star defeat Killester and Ballincollig topple Templeogue then if Neptune fail to win they will lose out.

There are so many ifs and buts with this series of games that Neptune’s game against Sligo All Stars will see the Mercy College Gym packed to the rafters.

Neptune are on a three-game winning run but they are far from the finished package and make no mistake the westerners will test their credentials.

The performances of Americans Tamyrik Fields and Chance Hunter will be crucial as they face good professionals Robert Montgomery and Jonathon Brown.

There are no back-doors or trap-doors this is the real deal and Neptune will need a game plan if they are to remain on track.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig’s season has derailed in recent weeks and their latest loss to Bright St Vincent’s was worrying to the faithful. All season Ballincollig were relatively good in defence but American Quashawn Lane has had a downturn in form and Adrian O'Sullivan is out injured.

17 points in two games from Lane is simply not good enough and he will need to step it up big time in their away clash Templeogue, who look destined to be relegated. If Ballincollig can find their best form, they will win but they cannot afford to be complacent.

UCC Demons are not involved in the Super Saturday series of games as they are the only Cork side with home advantage with a home clash against Eanna.

Demons lost at Killorglin last weekend but without taking anything away from the Kerry side, coach Danny O’Mahony used this game to give his fringe players more court time. Hard to know how this game will pan out but when Eanna are in town you are always guaranteed a good basketball game.

UP IN THE AIR

The action in the Women’s Super League is also competitive with the final standings still very much up in the air.

The Address UCC Glanmire travel to play second-placed Liffey Celtics where coach Mark Scannell will be looking for a win.

Glanmire have been a little inconsistent all season but new American signing Trinity Oliver has given them hope that they could be formidable opponents in the playoffs.

Liffey Celtics were easy winners of the National Cup and after finishing second in the regular season, coach Karl Kilbride will have his eye firmly on completing the elusive double.

Gurranabraher Credit Union travel to the capital for a clash against Killester hoping to seal a higher place in the table. When you have Edel Thornton as your captain and leader you always have a chance, and this game could go down to the wire.

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s have a winner-takes-all game against St Paul’s in Killarney but their recent form must be a major worry to coach Keith Daly.

St Paul’s invested big time in their squad this season and to be battling for the last play-off place is not what they envisaged back in September.