The British Basketball League is delighted to release the fixtures for the rapidly approaching 2006/07 season, which commences on Friday 29th September as the BBL celebrates its 20th season of competition. An exciting curtain-raiser sees reigning BBL Champions the Springfield Honda Newcastle Eagles, who swept the board of domestic honours last season, travel to the Westfield Sharks Sheffield, who themselves were in the title race for much of the campaign as they finished third and reached the BBL Finals Weekend. It represents a tough start for Fab Flournoy’s Eagles as they follow that up with another road game at the Milton Keynes Lions, and there’s also a highly anticipated game with the Scottish Phoenix Honda Rocks at the MetroRadio Arena amongst their early exchanges. Elsewhere, the two newcomers to the BBL don’t have to wait long for their inception, as both London United and the Worcester Wolves contest their inaugural fixtures in Britain’s top division over the opening weekend. The Wolves host Kularoos Plymouth Raiders as United visit the DMU Leicester Riders both on Saturday 30 September. Last year’s runners-up in both the BBL Championship and Playoffs, the Scottish Phoenix Honda Rocks welcome the Guildford Heat to the Braehead Arena for their opening fixture under new coach Thorsten Liebenath on Sunday 1st October. Whilst Milton Keynes and Worcester clash to complete the first weekend of BBL Championship action. The British Basketball League are also pleased to announce the draw for the first two rounds of the BBL Cup. The first round pits the Milton Keynes Lions against the Worcester Wolves (20th October) and Kularoos Plymouth Raiders against London United (22nd October). The quarter-final draw has thrown up some mouth-watering ties including Westfield Sharks Sheffield playing host to the DMU Leicester Riders and the Scottish Phoenix Honda Rocks facing the Chester Jets. Last season’s winners, Newcastle, will play Milton Keynes or Worcester in the quarter-finals. Excitingly, the BBL Trophy competition has expanded ahead of the new season with six invitees battling it out with the BBL clubs to get their hands on the prestigious Trophy. From EB Division 1, the Coventry Crusaders will compete in the North 2 group, with the London Leopards in the South 1 group whilst the Reading Rockets and Worthing Thunder feature in South 2. The BBL would also like to welcome the top two teams from the Scottish Basketball League, the Troon Tornadoes and City of Edinburgh Kings, who will enter the North 1 group. The team that finishes top of each of the four groups will enter the draw for the semi-final stage. Also announced today are the dates for the showpiece events of the season. The Finals Weekend concludes proceedings on 5/6th May, with the BBL Cup Final being contested on 7th January, both at the National Indoor Arena, and the BBL Trophy Final takes place on Sunday 4th March.
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