The British Basketball League’s North-West derby between Cheshire Phoenix and Manchester Giants is always a thrilling spectacle.
But as the two rivals lock horns again on Friday night at Ellesmere Sports Village, recent meetings along with the overall winning history all point to one side: Cheshire.
The Phoenix are currently 2-0 this season against their neighbours, with an average winning margin of 22 points.
Overall, Cheshire also boasts a 25-18 record over Manchester, so North-West bragging rights are firmly with coach Ben Thomas and his stars.
The Giants will look to change that.
Taking a Giant step towards victory
It’s not been a good spell for Manchester thus far, only winning two of their last seven games.
Agonisingly, four of those losses have been in single digits, with the Giants competitive but failing to finish the game strongly.
An exciting team to watch with Jamell Anderson (15 points), Nicolas Lewis (14.6 points) and perhaps the most talked about guard in the league right now, Evan Walshe (10.1 points), leading the team; offensively, they have firepower.
With the trio at the helm, the big derby could be the Giants’ platform to get back on track.
Looking to soar again
Cheshire created a lot of buzz in the opening two months of the season, but recently, the Phoenix have not been high-flyers.
Three losses in their last five have left them grounded, and the previous two games – both defeats – have seen them concede more than 100 points.
Maceo Jack and Aaryn Rai have been the catalysts on the offensive end, and November’s Molten Player of the Month, LaQuincy Rideau, has been the glue for the team, averaging 7.4 assists to go with 10.7 points a game.
Cheshire still holds a solid 12-7 record and sits third in the standings, but their loyal fans, along with the players, will love nothing more than to see out 2023 with a win.
To watch this game of the 2023/24 British Basketball League season, tune in to YouTube on Friday, December 29 at 7:30pm GMT.
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