Mersey Tigers Win BBL Championship

Image Credit: Basketball Views

Mersey Tigers are the 2010/2011 BBL Championship winners after beating arch-rivals Newcastle Eagles 75-80 in the north-east on Wednesday night to clinch the title.

Knowing a defeat would open the door for the Eagles, Mersey held them off over the last three minutes to win their first league title and add more silverware alongside the BBL Trophy they won earlier this year.

Tigers Head Coach Garbelotto was ecstatic of the victory:

“I am almost speechless. What can I say about my guys? Seriously, to go up against a champion team like Newcastle on their own floor and come away with the title is just a truly great achievement. In all honesty, I really don’t know how we won the game because if I am honest it wasn’t coaching. It was just desire by the players because they just wanted it so badly and I am so proud of them.”

“To win against true champion team like Newcastle who are led by Fab (Flournoy) and to do it on their floor as well makes it an even bigger achievement for us.”

“It is the greatest accomplishment of my career and I hope it’s time to start talking about a British team winning the British Basketball League title and the positives of our club instead of the negatives. I don’t think any team has won the title before with an all British team in a league as competitive as this one has been all season. For that, everyone deserves huge credit and I really hope we get some deserved recognition.”

Mersey Tiger and GB forward Drew Sullivan said:

“This BBL Championship means a lot -in fact, it means everything. We have put so much hard work into the games this season. Everyone knows about the problems off the court which have affected the club and yet right through it all, the staff, the players and the fans have all stuck together.”

“It does make it extra sweet the way we won it and where we won it. Not just for me but for the club as a whole. It was a classic game with the two best teams playing great basketball and we are just happy and relieved to have won.”

Mersey were led by Nate Reinking’s 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, Tafari Toney added 20 and 12 boards, whilst Andrew Thomson had 18 and 13 rebounds. Charles Smith and Reggie Jackson led Newcastle with 24 points a piece. Full box score can be found here.

Thoughts? Were you at the game? Pleased to see Mersey win? Drop a comment!