FIBA Basketball

    ENG - EBL division 1 women prepare for semis

    SHEFFIELD (EBL Divison 1 Women) - After a four week break for the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s EBL Division I kicks off again on Saturday with game one of the best-of-three play-off semi-finals

    SHEFFIELD (EBL Divison 1 Women) - After a four week break for the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s EBL Division I kicks off again on Saturday with game one of the best-of-three play-off semi-finals.
     
    Few would bet against a Rhondda Rebels v Sheffield Hatters final at the NIA on Sunday April 30.  Rhondda finished with a perfect league record and also lifted the National Cup with an 86-77 win against Sheffield in the National Cup final. The Welsh side currently hold a 22-0 record in all domestic competitions, while Sheffield’s only two league defeats came against Rebels.
     
    Rhondda travel to a Manchester Mystics side who finished fourth in the table.  Rebels won 92-61 at the Amaechi Centre in January, and their home game four weeks later was even more comfortable, as they ran out 91-45 winners.
     
    Hatters’ games against third placed Nottingham Wildcats have been considerably closer.  The Yorkshire side edged a thriller at the EIS in December, winning 57-55, while their trip to Nottingham’s Jesse Boot Arena resulted in a 66-58 win.
     
    Game two of the two ties take place next weekend, with game three scheduled for the week after Easter, if necessary.