WBBL Run-In 3.0: Lions close on title, two spots left in playoffs

Image credit: British Basketball League

London Lions have the opportunity to clinch a third successive WBBL regular season title this weekend, while the playoffs race looks set to go down to the final weekend.

The recent European champions are just one result away from another league triumph going into the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

The title countdown:

London Lions can clinch the title with victory against Sheffield Hatters (14-4) on Sunday after winning three games in four days to move to 17-0. If they were to suffer a first league defeat of the season, the title would still be secured if Caledonia Gladiators (15-3) fail to beat Leicester Riders (15-3) later that evening.

The Gladiators are the only other team in contention for the title, but can only do so in the unlikely event that London lose all three games – which also requires the Scottish side to claim the H2H on the final day (losing the recent first meeting by 35 points).

The playoffs race:

Newcastle Eagles [7-11] became the sixth team to clinch their place in the post-season, which leaves four teams fighting it out for the final two spots.

The only team that can secure their place this weekend is Durham Palatinates [6-12] with victory over Manchester Giants [5-13] sealing a top-eight finish and also eliminating their opponents in the process. Lee Davie’s side only need to win one of their final two games, but two defeats would curtail their season.

Manchester would advance with two wins, as they also head to Newcastle on the final weekend, while the same fate lies in store for Oaklands Wolves [5-13] with two wins over Essex and Durham guaranteeing their place in the playoffs – though even one win may be enough.

Nottingham Wildcats [6-14] have played out their regular season, and must wait for results to go their way. They hold the tiebreaker over Manchester as well as topping potential three-way ties with Durham and Manchester as well as with Manchester and Oaklands, but would miss out in a direct H2H with the Wolves or if they finish level with both Oaklands and Durham.

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