Tony Garbelotto has hailed Drew Sullivan as the greatest player to have played in the BBL ahead of his teams match-up with the Great Britain captain tomorrow night.
Having shared a long association with the player ever since he first coached him as a junior in the capital and up to last season when he helped Tigers secure a wonderful treble, the play-caller is in no doubt as to the degree of influence Sullivan has on any team.
"I have a special relationship with Drew that goes back to when he started playing as a young player" explained Garbelotto. "He is, in my opinion, the greatest winner and player to have ever played in the BBL."
"Any team who has him on their roster has should win silverware and there is really nothing else more to say" added the coach. With the in-form Riders already in the last four of the BBL Cup and unbeaten in the BBL Championship, trophies could well be on the menu for Rob Paternostro and his team this season. However, Garbelotto will certainly be out to dent their hopes during his visit to the John Sandford Sports Centre in what looks a mouth-watering clash.
Before Garbelotto gets to experiences a reunion with Sullivan, both of teams face very difficult fixtures tonight against Worcester Wolves and One Health Sharks Sheffield respectively. Tigers host a Wolves team who are yet to taste defeat in the BBL Championship while Garbelotto will be desperate to emerge victorious and rack up a first league win for of the season. Meanwhile Riders recent run of excellent results could easily be brought to a shuddering halt this evening if they arent focused when they head to Sheffield to face a Sharks team seriously hurting from something of a losing streak of late.
Sharks have lost twice against the Eagles and were soundly beaten by Rocks and as a consequence of this, the very thought of the hosts slumping to a 1-4 start in the BBL Championship is almost unthinkable. It certainly underlines the importance of this game for Atiba Lyons and his players who would find it a hugely difficult task to finish as BBL Champions if they were to lose four of their first five games.
There will be real a sense of familiarity tomorrow evening when Worcester Wolves host UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders and Durham Wildcats entertain Glasgow Rocks. Both games are repeats of BBL Trophy fixtures from earlier in the season with each of the home sides looking to avenge disappointing losses.
Wildcats can certainly feel confident ahead of their game with Rocks since they had the confidence boost of winning their first ever game in the BBL last time they stepped out at Newton Aycliffe.
Coach Elderkin will also gain some confidence from almost causing an upset at Worcester last weekend when they were narrowly beaten.
Both UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders and Worcester Wolves won their respective road games against each other and this looks set to be a titanic tussle as Paul James tries to ensure his team gain revenge for Raiders eliminating them from the Trophy.
For any team harbouring ambitions of being crowned BBL Champions this season, it looks like pacesetters Newcastle Eagles will be the team to beat. They are in action during the final game of the weekend when Cheshire Jets will look to shatter their flawless record which has seen them chalk up four wins so far.
Certainly if they want to avoid a first loss in the league, the Eagles will have to improve when they hit the floor at Northgate since they were wholly unconvincing and very fortunate to squeeze past Rocks in their BBL Cup quarter-final against Rocks in their last outing.