Basketball: Kings wary of student threat with cup final spot at stake

Glasgow University's International Brigade will pose a major obstacle to Edinburgh Kings reaching the Scottish Cup final when the Capital basketball side travel west for their semi-final at the Stevenson Building tomorrow (2pm).

Kings have already felt the sting of the students' shooting when the visitors fired in 11 three-pointers at Portobello in the recent league clash between the two, which the Capital men still won 86-74.

However this time, in addition to their Lithuanian sharp-shooters Julius Kainietis and Aistis Keliauskas and ex-Worcester BBL guard Steve Archer, Glasgow may have back their Australian guard Chris Neal to give them a battery of three-point aces round the perimeter.

"We'll have to work hard to pressure their impressive outside shooting and rotate quickly to stop them opening us up," said Kings coach Danny Costello. "We may have the best defensive record in the league but we'll have to be at our best."

With Kevin Anderson and Chopper Lee Pettett both unavailable and coach Costello struggling for reserves, Edinburgh University stalwart Liam McCabe, who has been concentrating on student games since Christmas, has answered the call to help out. But that still means Kings have only seven players on their bench and cannot afford to give away cheap fouls.

Edinburgh Kool Kats and Polonia Phoenix clash in a local derby in a Scottish Women's Cup semi-final at Portobello High School tomorrow (11am).

Polonia just prevailed 64-63 on the first day of the season at PHS, but Kats comfortably won the return at Currie High.

Both teams have been in splendid league form recently and the winners could still be on for the double.