26/11/07 After a scintillating weekend of BBL Cup action, the final four teams have been paired off for the semi-final stages. The draw was made at 10.00am this morning and is as follows:
The semi-final matches take place on one huge day - Saturday 15th December - at the K2 Arena in Crawley. As the first teams out of the draw, the Rocks will face the Eagles in the first of the day's games as 3.30pm, with the Lions and Heat squaring off at 6.00pm. It is the first time that a BBL event has been held at the impressive K2 facility, although the venue has a successful track record with basketball having played host to two matches between Great Britain and Ireland over the Summer. One of the foremost rivalries in the BBL is renewed in yet another huge game when the Rocks and Eagles meet. The two clubs clashed at this stage of the BBL Cup last season, with the Rocks prevailing 94-69 to reach their third BBL Cup Final in four years. The teams have also met in each of the last two BBL Championship Playoff finals, with the Eagles winning both of those games. There has been one fiery league encounter already this season, with the Eagles taking a 110-117 double-overtime win north of the border. The Eagles are former BBL Cup winners from 2005/06, when they beat the London Towers at the NIA. The Rocks meanwhile have featured in three of the last four finals, but are yet to win the competition. For the Heat and the Lions, this will be the first time that they have met outside of BBL Championship action. The Heat have had the better of the encounters thus far, having won eight of the ten games, including a pair of victories early in this season. Guildford won 100-106 at the start of October, and 95-79 later in the same month. The Guildford Heat are defending BBL Cup champions, having beaten the Rocks 81-78 in last season's final at the NIA. Tickets for the BBL Cup semi-finals are already on sale and can be obtained by visiting the BBL Webshop at www.bblshop.org.uk or by calling 0870 445 0606. Tickets are priced at £12 for adults and £8 for children, with a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) available for £35, and include entry to both of the semi-final matches (booking fee may apply).
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