Tigers pounce on champions title
Abrakebabra Tigers are the 2007 Men's SuperLeague National Cup Champions after a stunning team display saw them wrestle the coveted trophy out of the grasp of UCC Demons at the National Basketball Arena this evening.
Dave Fanning lead the charge for the Tigers and was instrumental to their success on the day.
His performance earned him the Most Valuable Player Award amongst the Irish Media who turned up in abundance to witness one of the best atmospheres present at the National Cup Finals for many years.
Tigers pushed forward from the tip off with Wider Auguste and Fanning running rampant in the offensive areas.
Demons struggled to get moving in the opening exchanges and with just over four minutes played the Kerrymen were ten points ahead, 12-2. Demons clawed the deficit back to seven points thanks to some wonderful offensive plays with LeShon Sheffield and Benito Flories benefiting in the scoring stakes. Seven points remained the gap at the end of the opening quarter with Tigers leading 21-14.
The second quarter saw the Tigers accelerate further into the lead with Dave Fanning netting a superb three point score.
The Tigers' Point Guard trumped this with another 3 pointer straight after to demonstrate his desire for National Cup glory.
The Demon's retort was swift from Niall O'Reilly and Benito Flories whose three point efforts found the net with ease.
Tigers remained a consistent eleven point lead over their Munster Rivals with Kerry GAA All Star Kieran Donaghy getting in on the scoring act with smashing dunk and constantly urged his side onwards.
The gap between the sides was all the more apparent when Fanning's basket mid way through the quarter increased his sides lead to 15 points. It was do or die now for Demons and Pat Price's men went on a scoring spree with scores from Sheffield, Flories and Michael Pilchta to close the gap to just six points.
Dave Falvey will have been shocked to see his side lose a large advantage but Tigers went back to work and at the halfway stage the scoreboard displayed 44-37 in the favour of the Tralee side.
In the penultimate period Demons came racing out of the traps with Niall Murphy endeavouring to close the gap to four points.
Tigers retorted with a string of fine scores from the American star Dave Fanning once again with John Teahan popping up with a fine score for good measure.
The game once again witnessed a Demons backlash with Flories and Niall Murphy reeling back the rampant Tigers to five points.
Tigers continued to probe the Demons defence with Fanning again leading the line along with Quirke and James Mooney but it would be Demons who would finish the game on the stronger footing, dominating in defensive rebounds and David Murphy showing a keen eye for the basket to end the quarter 64-59 behind and still within a shout of turning the game around.
Sadly for the Rebels, the current SuperLeague Southern Conference leaders were unprepared to watch the Silverware slip through their fingers.
James Mooney and Wilder Auguste scored freely around the key and with ten bocks during the game, Auguste ensured that Demons would not mount a comeback.
Tigers suffered a blow in the latter stages of the period when Kieran Donaghy ran into foul trouble but Falvey ran his bench with efficiency throughout the afternoon and a reserve was on hand at all times. Demons put everything into a late revival but Tigers closed the game down and with the clock running down the finishing line appeared ever closer.
The beaten 2005 Finalists gained their revenge on their victors that day and Abrakebabra Tigers lifted the cup, winning out 85-70.
Top Scorers
Abrakebabra Tigers
Dave Fanning 24
Wilder Auguste 16
Michael Quirke 13
UCC Demons
Michael Quirke 13
Niall Murphy 20
LaShon Sheffield 16
