Cork Basketball: Ballincollig bask in cup glory as Demons and Neptune battle relegation

It will be back to basics for National Cup champions Ballincollig when they host Energywise Ireland Neptune in the Domino’s Men’s Super League at the MTU tomorrow (4pm).

Ballincollig gave possibly the best shooting display ever witnessed in a National cup final when demolishing Tralee Warriors and now Ciaran O’Sullivan will surely have his side focused in their attempt to complete the elusive double.

The cup champions will need no reminding that they went down at St Vincent’s in a league game prior to their cup win and with the bragging rights up for grabs this should be an entertaining game.

In the cup final American Lattrell Jossell have an MVP performance with a stunning 31 points and no doubt the Neptune coach Ciaran Kiveney will be giving his professional Jordan Henderson the job of nullifying this threat.

The biggest problem for Neptune will be restricting the Ballincollig post player Latavious Mitchell, who is a serious operator at both ends of the court.

Mitchell is disciplined as you never see him getting involved with referees even when dubious fouls go against him and his battling qualities on the boards are worth the admission fee alone.

A lot has been spoken this season about Bosman Josh Steel and his performance in the capital last weekend showed why his coach has so much respect for him.

Steel has played the majority of his basketball in the BBL in England and at the age of 29 is now in the twilight of his career.

Steel had two below par performances in the run up to the cup final but he refused to drop his head and went toe to toe with the Tralee Warriors American Jordan Perkins restricting him to 14 points. Steel is a wonderful shooter and superb in defence and it will be interesting how Neptune plan to nullify him.

The Ballincollig Irish players Adrian O’Sullivan, Keelan Cairns, Dylan Corkery and Ronan O’Sullivan have all earned their stripes and if they can brush the cup cobwebs off Neptune could be in for a difficult afternoon.

Neptune are now rooted at the foot of the table with rivals UCC Demons and with the threat of relegation, every game is now a final until the end of the season.

Americans Mike Hayes and Jordan Henderson are average professionals and if the Ballincollig professionals bring their A game to the table, they could well be under serious pressure.

The one plus for Neptune is that Cian Heaphy has returned from injury and that will be help his team's cause in their bid for survival.

Catalonian Nil Sabata will also return for Neptune from his vacation but unless Ballincollig have a serious cup hangover, it’s hard to see Neptune getting anything from this game.

BOOST

UCC Demons, the other Cork side fighting for survival, entertain cup finalists Tralee Warriors at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Hard to know nowadays what you are going to get from Demons but their away win over Killorglin before the cup finals weekend will surely give them confidence.

The biggest plus for Demons was their 52 points contribution from their Irish players and that was just what the doctor ordered with their professionals having a dismal night at the Kerry venue.

Coach Danny O’Mahony has to find a way to get his professionals playing to their ability and, more importantly, staying out of foul trouble.

In the case of Tamyrik Fields, his shooting has been poor and he needs to find his touch in this game and get his team a win they yearn for.

The second Demons American Jordan Washington looks a hard player to coach and after having a college career in division one with Iona University surely, he knows that reaching in will not be tolerated in any league.

Tralee Warriors are a handful for any side on their best day and no doubt they will test Demons in this intriguing encounter.