Cork Basketball: Neptune up and running with gritty win over Sligo All Stars
Neptune's Eli Lenihan and Sligo's Timi Tolu Ogunkoya go to ground after a tussle for possession during their Men's Super League clash at Neptune Stadium. Picture: David Keane.
The drought is over for Energywise Ireland Neptune in the Domino’s Men’s Super League following a hard-earned win over Sligo All Stars at Neptune Stadium.
Not the greatest spectacle for the basketball purists at the Blackpool venue but that will not worry the faithful as the result is all that really mattered after five straight defeats. Nil Sabata, the popular Catalonian, had a key role with an 18-point tally while Adon Gregorio finished as top scorer on 23 points.
After much debate this week following the sacking of Keith Daly, Neptune confirmed that Paul O’Brien had taken over as head coach with Darren Geaney coming in as his assistant.
The visitors were quickest from the blocks and in the space of two minutes, they raced into a seven-point lead. Indeed, Neptune were struggling in defence and a slammer from Christian Williams in the third minute saw Sligo surge into a nine-point lead 11-2.
The home side went into the game without Irish international Cian Heaphy and his intensity on court was sadly missed. As the quarter matured, Neptune improved a little but in truth, the game was littered with poor shooting and passing options from both sides.
The home side made numerous substitutions but after a scrappy opening quarter, Sligo All Stars commanded a four-point lead, 19-15.
The first quarter introduction of Nil Sabata worked the oracle for Neptune as he chipped in with 10 points that brought the sides on parity in the 12th minute. Suddenly, Sligo got a scoring run on Neptune and five unanswered baskets gave them a 33-23 lead midway through the quarter.
Sabata after a few minute's rest, returned to drain two crucial baskets and when Roti Ware executed a neat floater, the sides were level again.
Both sides had a chance to go ahead in the final minute, but they fluffed the opportunities as the game was deadlocked at 35 points each.
Looking at the half-time stats, Neptune averaged 57% inside the paint 17/30 but 0/12 was a dreadful figure outside the arc.
A stunning three-pointer from Cameron Glover in the 22nd minute saw Neptune lead for the first time as the home side now looked in ascendency.
Midway through the quarter, the visitors looked in trouble as their players seemed to tire with a badly needed time-out called in a bid to stop the Neptune scoring spree.
The Neptune onslaught continued and when Adon Gregario nailed a three-pointer on the restart, it increased their lead to nine points. Credit to the Neptune coaching staff, they played an inside game for the first time this season and their strategy worked perfectly for them.
Slack defending by Neptune in the closing minute saw them give up two soft baskets that helped Sligo reduce the deficit to five points entering the final quarter.
Coming down the stretch, Neptune stayed in control, but Sligo All Stars refused to lie down and it took a late brace of Eoin Nelson free throws that ensured the all-important win.
Next on the agenda for Neptune is a National Cup game next weekend at Tralee Warriors but despite this result, they'll need a far better display to get through.
A Gregorio 23, N Sabata 18, E Nelson 17.
RJ Rock 29, C Williams 18, J Noel 16.
D O’Rourke, K O’Donoghue, C Glover, E Lenihan, R Ware, S Noonan, E Nelson, A Heaphy, N Sabata, A Gregorio, P Osagie.
C M Williams, D O’Meara, M Chambers, J Noel, E Faapito, J Carroll, A Lockhart, O Toluogunkoya, RJ Rock, O Agu, L McLoughlin.
Emer Buckley (Kerry), Sean Butterley (Dublin), Peter James Coughlan (Cork).
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