Macaulay Expects ‘Dog Fight’

Marshall MK Lions host the Guildford Heat on Friday evening at Bletchley Leisure Centre in the first BBL Cup clash of the 2009/10 campaign, and Lions coach Vince Macaulay is expecting nothing to come easy for his side on Friday evening: 'As it's the BBL cup, we want to progress, so we are expecting a real dog fight on Friday' he said: 'The Guildford Heat have shown that they are developing as a team under Chad (McKnight). They had a couple of easier games to start the season, but really pushed Everton all the way last weekend.' Macaulay identified former GB Internationals Mike Martin and Julius Joseph as the men to watch out for when Guildford come to town: 'Their main threats are Mike Martin and Julius Joseph' he added: 'Mike is a high level player who is so athletic, but combines that with playing very hard for every second he is on the floor. Julius is a player that can hurt you offensively. He is slowly getting back into game shape after a year off and I believe that combination could be lethal.' The contest is made more interesting by the transfer of former BBL Trophy Final MVP EJ Harrison from the Heat to the Lions this summer, after the American had helped Guildford to Trophy glory in 2008.

Friday evening's second game sees the Sheffield Sharks welcome the Glasgow Rocks to the EIS, Sheffield in a BBL Championship clash. The Sharks hold the all time head-to-head between the sides at 36-14, and the game precedes them taking on the Worthing Thunder on Saturday evening in the BBL Cup.

More BBL Cup action gets underway on Saturday evening, as the Plymouth Raiders are in action against a hungry London Capital side, and the Essex Pirates and Worcester Wolves go head to head in a game that could go either way.

The BBL Championship table is also more than likely to change on Saturday evening, as six teams are in league action, with the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, Guildford Heat, and Cheshire Jets all playing at home. Leicester, who will be riding high after their 99-65 defeat of the Essex Pirates last weekend, will be without dynamic point guard Tack Minor, as the American serves a one game ban.

Whilst the Heat complete a trying weekend with a home tie against the Newcastle Eagles, the Cheshire Jets face cross-town rivals, the Everton Tigers. Tigers' boss Tony Garbelotto said on Cheshire: 'They are a very experienced team, who happen to be our cross town rivals. Last season we went undefeated against them and I know that they will come for us with even more effort this season. They have had a mixed start but I still think this will be a tough game for both teams. As usual the main threat for them revolves around Chez Marks.'

Source: www.bbl.org.uk

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