Riders Join All-Stars Line-Up


Riders Join All-Stars Line-Up

Leicester Riders have qualified for this year’s British Basketball All-Stars Championship after beating Cheshire Phoenix 97-84 on Saturday and will now join defending champions London Lions at The Copper Box Arena on Sunday, October 14.

Riders were semi-finalists at the 2017 All-Stars having defeated Surrey Scorchers and DBL Sharks Sheffield in the double elimination stage. However, they fell to eventual runners-up Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 27-26 in an enthralling semi-final clash.

Riders currently hold an eight-point gap on second placed Newcastle in the BBL Championship standings. Eagles kept the pressure on 2017 Champions Riders with a 93-70 success over Bristol Flyers at the weekend.

Glasgow Rocks share second with 34 points but missed the chance to open up a gap on Eagles as they went down 72-81 to DBL Sheffield Sharks on Sunday. The defeat came after winning 93-75 at Lions on Friday and means Sharks move to within six points of Rocks with four matches in hand.

Worcester Wolves and Surrey Scorchers share fourth with Sharks on 28 points. Scorchers scored their biggest win of the season 109-53 over Leeds Force on Friday while Wolves followed defeat to Phoenix with a 97-68 triumph at Manchester Giants.

Earlier in the weekend Giants had lost a narrow match away at Plymouth Raiders. The high-scoring match eventually saw the hosts run out 103-97 winners.

The top seven teams on the final BBL standing at the end of the season will join defending champions London Lions in the British Basketball All-Stars Championship at Copper Box Arena, London on Sunday, October 14.

Tickets for the 2018 British Basketball All-Stars Championship will be available via www.allstarsbasketball.co.uk with tickets priced at £20, £30 and £40 with courtside hospitality tickets available at £99. Under 18s receive 50% off tickets, excluding courtside hospitality. Family and group discounts will be available.