Two products of the Manchester Magic basketball side will be at opposite ends of the floor this Sunday, after being the same wavelength a season ago.
James Jones (pictured) and Andy Thomson both featured for the treble-winning Mersey Tigers side last season, but went to different ends of the country in the off-season.
Jones will hope to keep his winning streak going for Plymouth Raiderss, as they attempt to win only their second piece of BBL silverware, whereas Thomson will look to add to Newcastle Eagles’ impressive resume of winners medals on Sunday.
“It’s the fifth consecutive BBL final for me and Andy,” said the 28-year-old Raiders guard.
“We played in the 2010 playoff final and all three last season. One of us is going to be happy on Sunday evening and one isn’t.”
Jones admits that he and Thomson keep in touch constantly and the two Manchester-born players have enjoyed a fair bit of banter, leading up to Sunday’s clash at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena.
“Andy was around my dad’s house in Manchester at Christmas and I told him he’d have to wait for his present as it was a runners-up medal. He told me the same thing, but it was definitely my idea,” Jones added.
Thomson just wants his own bed.
Newcastle Eagles’ Andy Thomson admits that last year’s Cup final defeat to Sheffield Sharks was one of the darkest days of his career.
“I can honestly say I had a strange feeling all week something wasn’t right,” Thomson explained.
“We changed our preparation and had a tough week of practice before staying the night before in a plush hotel. We were used to sleeping in our own beds then travelling on the day, playing and coming home.”
Thomson added: “They also had a guy who set a finals record just to add insult to what was probably the worst basketball day of my career.”
For extended British Basketball League Cup final coverage on Sunday, follow John Hobbs on Twitter @johnswisshobbs
