Eight teams battled in the SLB Cup quarter-finals, all fighting for a place in the semi-finals.
Leicester Riders 94-102 Surrey 89ers
The Surrey 89ers have comeback from a 24-point deficit to defeat the Leicester Riders 102-94 at the Mattioli Arena to reach the final four of the SLB Cup.
The Riders delivered an outstanding firs-quarter display, led by Spencer Johnson’s 13 points and Raequan Battle‘s 11. They also put on a clinic from beyond the arc, shooting a perfect 7-of-7. Despite their 24-point deficit, the Niners fought hard to cut their deficit to just six point in the third. Lloyd Gardner’s side delivered an impressive collective performance in the second half to pull an incredible comeback victory.
Ronald Polite III recorded a game-high 23 points and six rebounds, scoring some crucial baskets down the stretch to get his side over the line. Meanwhile, Kino Lily Jr. registered a 19-point, 11-assist double-double in the win.
For Leicester, Raequan Battle ended the game with a team-high 18 points while Spencer Johnson added 17 points in the loss.
Player of the game: Ronald Polite III (Surrey 89ers)
Newcastle Eagles 68-94 London Lions
The London Lions delivered another strong collective performance to comfortably defeat the Newcastle Eagles 94-68 at the Vertu Arena and clinch their spot in the SLB Cup semi-final.
The Lions took control early with an 8-0 run to start the game and never let this game out of their grip. Their strong collective display proved decisive, as they controlled the proceedings to secure another convincing win and reach the SLB Cup semi-final.
London saw six of their players score in double figures and Amin Adamu led the Lions with a game-high 17 points off the bench, while Chaundee Brown Jr. added 15 points and six rebounds in the win.
For the Eagles, Terrell Burden Jr and Deion Hammond each scored a team-high 12 points in the loss.
Player of the game: Chaundee Brown Jr. (London Lions)
Manchester Basketball 92-67 Bristol Flyers
Manchester Basketball dominated the Bristol Flyers 92-67 in the SLB Cup quarterfinal at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
The hosts took a commanding lead early thanks to their strong display on both ends of the floor, making it hard for the Flyers to get going in the opening quarter as they were held to just 10 points. While Andreas Kapoulas’ side kept fighting, Manchester put the result of the game beyond doubt with a dominant third-quarter display.
Max Jones delivered an outstanding performance to lead his team to victory with a team-high 23 points while shooting 9-of-14 from the field (64%), while Jordan Johnson scored 14 points off the bench.
Joseph Anderson registered a game-high 25 points, but it was not enough to avoid defeat for the Flyers.
Player of the game: Max Jones (Manchester Basketball)
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 100-103 Cheshire Phoenix
The Cheshire Phoenix edged past the SLB Cup title holders, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, 103-100 in dramatic fashion at the Canon Medical Arena.
Both sides fought hard in the first half, trading leads through runs, with the Nix edging ahead by just two at half-time. A dominant 30-19 third-quarter display gave Cheshire a commanding lead heading into the fourth quarter. However, the Sharks surged back, making it a tight contest down the stretch. Ultimately, the Nix held on to their lead in the final seconds to secure their spot in the semi-final.
Patrick Robinson delivered a stellar performance, leading his side to victory with a game-high 30 points and nine assists. Meanwhile, Frankie Policelli dominated on both ends of the floor with 21 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
Prentiss Nixon led his team with 25 points and five assists off the bench, while Mervin James scored 20 points for Sheffield in the loss.
Player of the game: Frankie Policelli (Cheshire Phoenix)
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