Rob PaternostroThis weekend is a crucial one in the BBL, as the opponent for the Cheshire Jets in the BBL Cup Final in January is to be decided. It will either be the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, or the Sheffield Sharks, as these two sides face off in an all-or- nothing battle over two legs. They met in the Playoff Quarter Finals last year, on the Riders' home court, with the returning Bradd Wierzbicki sinking the shot that ended the Sharks' season. A key player in that game, and for the Riders generally across his one and a half seasons there, is American Lataryl Williams. The 6'6'' Forward has played all over the globe, including four clubs in the BBL, and ended his first season in Riders red last year with a trip to the BBL Playoff Final Weekend, where they were knocked out by runners-up, the Everton Tigers.

Williams has been out with injury now for a few weeks, and made his return last weekend with a double-header against the Essex Pirates and PAWS London Capital back-to-back. Both games were wins for Leicester, albeit by completely different margins, and Riders boss Rob Paternostro said that he has realised just how much his side missed Williams, since he was out injured. Paternostro commented: 'At the moment I have a good feeling about our team. This past weekend we really came together as a Basketball team. Friday at Essex we had a lot going against us, but we stuck together and pulled out a gutsy win, then Saturday we distributed the basketball better than we had all year. When we play like that good things happen so we are looking to continue to play that way this weekend' he added: 'It was also nice to have Lataryl (Williams) back, he played in both games last weekend and is fine. While he was out we missed his defence an overall Basketball IQ.'

The Sharks' Matt Gorman will also be returning from injury. The American big man, known for the range on his shot for a player his size, will be back in action this weekend, and player-coach Atiba Lyons expects a tenacious fight right from the opening tip of the two games, the first being in Sheffield tomorrow evening. The Riders will have home court advantage on Saturday though, as the Sharks make the journey south. Lyons commented: 'I feel we match up very well with Leicester. It is vital we bring intensity to the game from the tip because I know Rob (Paternostro) will have them well prepared. Everyone is healthy and ready to go, it will be a physical and scrappy game and both teams love that style of play so I expect an intense game.'

Also on Friday night, the Marshall MK Lions will be looking to put their 83-71 defeat at Cheshire Jets last weekend, which sent them out of the Cup competition, behind them. They take on the Everton Tigers, whilst on Saturday; the Jets turn their focus to league action with a tough game against the Essex Pirates.

Source: www.bbl.org.uk

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