2024: U18 Nat Cup Semi-Final: PHX v Galway Titans:6 Jan 2024

FULL GAME COVERAGE
Phoenix 64-55 Titans (Galway)
Qtrs: 15-17, 11-9, 16-20, 22-9
Semi-Final: U18 National Cup
Video Credit: Basketball Ireland
See Facebook Report on The Game
A CORKER OF A DAY!
For those that made the long journey to Cork on Saturday for the U18 National Cup semi-final - or for the many more Phoenix fans watching the game live on BITV - this was a day and a game that will live long in their memories!
Coaches Jim Martin and Kyle Gordon and their U18 charges had been listening all week to external commentary insinuating that they were only in Cork to make up the numbers - so small were their chances (apparently) of defeating the pre-tournament favourites.
But as Saturday's performance demonstrated - our coaches and lads showed the utmost faith that they have in themselves - both individually and as a team - to take on any opponent.
People forget that - as our American head coach Jim Martin might say - this isn’t our boys’ first rodeo!!
A significant number of Saturday's team were in our 2021-22 U18 squad that made it to the National Cup final that year.
That year we couldn't quite get it over the line but the experiences gained in that campaign were banked by the U16s that played that day (and who now make up so much of today's squad).
Of course they then had another campaign in the 22-23 season. However they were still just that little bit too young and lacking the physicality and the nous needed to progress out of the qualifying tournament.
But yet again that experience wasn't wasted - many learnings were credited to their competitive ledger coming out of that competition and season.
So coming into this season's campaign and during their unbeaten campaign to-date - those that have watched this squad closely - have seen what all that experience over three years has inculcated in this group.
This is now a team blessed not only with exceptional physical and technical abilities but just as importantly one that is mentally ready to compete with any team.
The fortitude and resilience this squad has displayed in their performances this season (and as evidenced by us all once again on Saturday) has been remarkable and indeed inspiring for those of us watching!
Our coaches and lads went into the game on Saturday knowing they were prepared and ready to win - and they did just that!
Now - they have to set all Saturday's excitement aside - and focus on the Dublin Lions Basketball Club - a team our lads watched from the stands on Saturday (before their own game).
The boys saw a truly outstanding individual performance from Harry Scully of the Dublin Lions as he scored 44 points (he scored 56 points in the quarters!).
But we saw a team in the Lions that had many more threats beside young Scully!
Jim and Kyle will have much head-scratching to do ahead of the final in two weeks time to come up with a strategy and plan to overcome the Lions - and take that additional and final step that we didn't manage two years ago!
It would of course be fantastic to see the core of this season's group sign off on their junior basketball 'careers' with a cup win.
But the Dublin Lions will no doubt have very similar ambitions so we will not get ahead of ourselves!
Whatever the result in two weeks time - we know that our young men will have - as they have done all season - given their all.
What more can you ask of anyone or any team?
Let's Go Phoenix!
See some great photos of Saturday's game - provided by @Basketball Ireland.
STATS
Final Score: Phoenix 64-55 Titans
Qtrs: 15-17, 11-9, 16-20, 22-9
Phoenix Team/Scores: Fiontan Rogers 20, Eoghan Sherry 10, Jacob Byrne 10, Omar Akhonzada 10, Daire O'Gorman 8, Tom Kearney 6, Faroug Nour, Conn Rush, Eoin Holman, James Bready, Sam Patterson, Conall Ferran, Archie Brennan
Coaches: Jim Martin and Kyle Gordon
Team Manager: Malachy Kearney
Titans Team/Scores: Viktor Tashev 18, Nathan Gbinigie 14, Declan Gbinigie 9, Luka Mitchell 6, Stephen Swede 6, Eoin Potito 2, Conor McDonagh, Richard Grebstels, Eoin O'Connor, Owen Meiring, David Schirliu