“We just can’t let them beat us three times this season”
TEMPLEOGUE Men’s Basketball Team captain Stephen James firmly believes his side will provide a much tougher test for UCD Marian in this Saturday night’s National Cup Final than they have done in the Super League this season.
The Reds have suffered two losses to the current table toppers, but are determined to exact revenge on the biggest of stages this weekend.
Speaking about their most recent defeat at the hands of the Belfield side, which incidentally includes his bothers Dan (player) and Conor (assistant coach), James told The Echo “We didn’t play anywhere near as well as we can and, to be fair, they played very well.
“Both teams really wanted to win because they needed to and so they weren’t ever going to hold anything back, but it’s just we played terrible.
“The final won’t be anything like that and if we play to our potential, then we’ll definitely be there or thereabouts towards the end of the fourth quarter.
“Having lost to them last week and earlier in the season, our sole focus is on this Cup Final and we just can’t let them beat us three times this season. We’ll be very disappointed if that happens so we have that extra motivation.
“The players knew themselves how badly we performed and they weren’t happy. But there is a positive attitude still there. We talked about it and put that result behind us and refocused.
“The two teams do match up well. We both have strong players in a lot of positions. UCD have had a core of good players there for the past two, three four seasons.
“They run good systems and it’s all coming together for them this year. They’re playing very well and are top of the table.
“But if we can get Jason [Killeen] and Bone’ [Michael Bonaparte] playing well, they are two huge players for us. And with the athleticism of Lorcan [Murphy] and great shooting from Luke Thompson, we’ll have a good chance,” he insisted.
James played down the talk of family rivalry that this Saturday’s match was always likely to spark.
“We don’t really talk about it,” he said. “It’s more so an exciting thing for the media.
“I know there’s one [brother] who plays for UCD and one who’s assistant coach there, so it’s 2 v 1, but it doesn’t really matter.
Growing up, we used to beat the s**t out of each other, and this match is not going to be any different,” he laughed.
Templeogue will be coming into this match off the back of their thrilling 105-103 overtime league victory over UCC Demons, whom they beat in the semi finals of the Cup earlier this month.
On another note Templeogue will also see their Under 18 Men’s team in National Cup Final action against Neptune in the National Basketball Arena on Saturday at 2pm.
TAGS Sport
