BASKETBALL/National Cup semi-finals:The Tralee Tigers and UCC Demons will contest the Superleague Cup final on January 28th after the two most successful teams in recent times powered past the best of the rest at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.
Already it is being dubbed as a classic with some mouth-watering match-ups on offer - especially the individual battle that will rage between Dave Fanning of the Tigers and LeShon Sheffield of the Demons.
More is the pity that the biggest name in Irish basketball, the Tigers and Kerry football's Kieran Donaghy, is expected to miss the main event on the basketball calendar due to the All Star tour of Dubai, which concludes on the same weekend.
The Tigers will surely endeavour to convince the Tralee native to reconsider his plans as they go into the final as underdogs despite the presence of Fanning, Wilder Auguste and fellow Kerry footballer Michael Quirke.
The Demons are seeking a fourth cup title in five years.
Quirke was magnificent yesterday, earning the MVP award in the first semi-final - a 95-88 victory over Superleague champions St Vincent's - even outshining the influence of Americans Fanning and Auguste.
St Vincent's led 21-17 after the first quarter but as the influence of the above trio grew not even the Donnelly brother's presence, or that of Jermaine Turner, could stem the tide.
St Paul's, Killarney were denied an all-Kerry final by the ever improving display Demons coach Pat Price seems to cajole out of his players at this point every year.
Still, the game will be remembered for the poor display of St Paul's key player Antonio Cool in contrast to the free-scoring Sheffield.
Half decent American college players have been brought into Irish basketball for 30 years, ultimately, to deliver a big performance in this sort of environment. Sheffield finished with 30 points and the MVP award (although in the post match interview he thought the opposition was Star of the Sea), while Cool had a nightmare afternoon.
In the women's semi-finals, UL Aughinish's 84-62 demolition of the Wildcats was made all the sweeter by the fact they lost coach Tony Hehir and star player Michelle Aspell to the Waterford club this season.
Fiona Scally registered 21 points, while Dearbhla Breen and Courtney McDaniel combined for 37 with Aspell's disappointing 15 points unable to influence the outcome.
UL will meet Glanmire in the eagerly awaited final after the Cork club overcame DCU Mercy 46-45, with Maire Breen recovering from a missed free throw to nail her second attempt at the death.
Dubbing yesterday's games as some of the most "amazing" and "exciting games ever to have taken place at the National Basketball Arena" is perhaps overdoing it on the promotional stakes.
However, there can be little doubt that the domineering teams in Irish basketball have charted safe passage to the Superleague Cup final on January 28th.
Basketball Ireland can be content that the weekend of televised semi-finals gives the sport its due recognition before a historic year for Irish sport sees it largely overshadowed.
