WOLVES DRINK FROM CUP OF CHEEER
Worcester Wolves secured the 2020 BBL Cup, holding off Bristol Flyers 67-59 in the final
It was the first time they had lifted this prize and it gave head coach Matt Newby the perfect present on his 42nd birthday.
MVP of the final, Amir Williams, with 23 points and 11 rebounds, was a Goliath in the middle in a scrappy duel of marginal gains.
Sweet success for Newby who had to await his second chance in the BBL before taking the Wolves job last summer.
“It’s just a massive thing to get a shot at it again,” he said. “I really enjoyed the BBL last time. For me, for my family, for these guys and their family, this is great.”
Bristol, chasing a first major trophy, suffered major shooting struggles during the first half, converting an ungainly 1-11.
And although their rivals fared little better from distance during an unappetising opening spell, they capitalised on their dominance in the paint with the unrelated Amir and Jordan Williams acting as twin battering rams.
Slowly they constructed a cushion, bit by bit, sweeping 34-25 ahead at the break in front of a record 9,244 crowd at Arena Birmingham.
But while Amir Williams deepened the wound when putting the Wolves up 14, the Flyers were able to patch themselves and fight on.
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Marcus Delpeche bookended a 13-4 burst that revived the contest just as it threatened to dissolve. The Flyers defence awoke to complement their offence.
Turnovers were forced. Confidence dented.
The gap eventually shrunk to 58-55 when Fred Thomas carved out a lay-up with 3:25 remaining in the fourth.
Worcester pushed. Bristol shoved back. But they came up short despite a team-high 13 points from Gentry Thomas.
“We have a lot more to do,” Williams, who played NBA Summer League with the Memphis Grizzles, warned.
“I knew if I came in here and trusted the coach’s game plan, played my game and as hard as I can then we can accomplish anything. Today was the first step, but we want more than this, a lot more.”
Photo: Ahmedphotos
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