This weekend will see the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders head into their third consecutive British Basketball League showpiece, with Sheffield Sharks the opponents at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena in the 2013 BBL Trophy Final.

 

Saturday’s game (3:00pm tip-off) will place Rob Paternostro’s dominant Riders side against a Sheffield Sharks side that, under player-coach Atiba Lyons, have been rejuvenated by their impressive run in the Trophy.

 

A packed John Sandford Sports Centre witnessed a heart-stopping aggregate victory for the Riders against a physical Worcester Wolves team last weekend. Whilst the second leg may not have been a visually-pleasing performance for Riders fans; the aggregate win was the main objective and that objective was successfully accomplished.

 

“The final two minutes of the first half were a big problem for me, because I felt that we couldn’t extend the lead,” said head coach Paternostro when reflecting on the second-leg of the Tophy semi-final. 

 

“On the night, we’re up 15 and all of a sudden they get a couple of threes and we’re down to four. I think that was what kept Worcester alive and kept them feeling good. We have to give them a lot of credit, because they believed all the way and the kept going at us. 

 

“Our biggest problem was that we kept letting them get to the foul line. When we practice and look at games, we make a big point about not fouling and not putting guys to the foul line…they went 26 times.

 

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy over both nights.”

 

With a full week to prepare for Saturday’s final against Sheffield Sharks, who defeated Cheshire Phoenix with an aggregate score of 176-134 to reach the Trophy Final, the emphasis has been on one key matter for Leicester Riders…rest.

 

“We’re going to rest, that’s the most important thing for us right now,” confesses Rob. 

 

“Over the next three or four days, it will be about getting the guys healthy and rested. 

 

“The thing that you have to understand at this stage of the season is that the guys that are playing are hurt too – on every team.  It’s not just our team that has injuries. All teams have injuries; it’s all about managing them right now. That’s what’s important for us, so as to make sure that our guys are fit and ready to go.”

 

I expect a team that’s confident,” said Rob of Saturday’s opponents.

 

“They’re playing well and they have a lot of veterans that have played in big games and their coach has coached the big games.

 

“They had a tough start to the season, so this is an opportunity for them to be involved in a big game and that has turned their season around.

 

“Atiba Lyons; you have to give him a lot of credit, because early on, things weren’t going well for him. He made the correct changes and they’re playing really well.”

 

One of Riders’ key players in the two-legged semi-final was guard Zaire Taylor, whose tenacity and ability to craft plays protected Leicester’s lead over the two games. His combined 45 points were massive as the New York-born Taylor led Riders’ scoring in both games.

 

“I’m expecting a battle,” says Zaire ahead of the game. “I said that the first game against Worcester was probably the toughest game that I’ve played this season, but I completely forgot about the BBL Cup Final. That was tough! I’m expecting the same kind of game. When there’s hardware on the line, people come to play. You’re going to get everybody’s best shot and we’re going to give them our best shot. When we say that, you can’t control if you make or miss every shot on any given night. 

 

“On any given night, I can go 0/10 or 10/10; you never really know because shooters will just keep shooting. When I say that we’ll be giving our best effort, I mean that – if there’s a loose ball – all ten guys on the floor are going to be after it. Every rebound; all ten guys are going to be after it. It’s going to come down to who is the toughest team. All championships come down to who’s the toughest team, not necessarily the better team.

 

“I love playing in big games. That’s why I play and that’s what I live for. When I was growing up, and I’m 26-years-old, I grew up in the Jordan era. Some guys on the team might want to be Kobe or whatever, but I know that everybody has done the countdown to try and make some of the shots that Jordan did – that game winner. I’ve been fortunate enough to hit a couple in my life and I wouldn’t shy away from it if I get a chance at the weekend.”