For the first time in 23 years, Bord Gáis Neptune will enter the opening round of the Basketball Ireland National Cup as defending champions.
The Cork club will look to recapture the magic that saw them eventually lift the trophy last January, as they open their campaign this weekend at home against Moycullen of Galway.
Neptune are coming off the back of a humiliating 24-point defeat in the league to their closest rivals, C&S UCC Demons, in a performance that is sure to send shockwaves through their supporters.
It was the team's second loss of the season, having already fallen to Killester in October. They can look back at their most recent meeting with Moycullen for some solace, however, having defeated Saturday's visitors in Neptune Stadium already this year, on a score line of 88 to 68.
On 22 points
In that contest, last season's cup final MVP Mike McGinn, proved the difference between the teams, connecting on 22 points while shooting 61 per cent from the field.
The veteran guard was instrumental in the team’s decisive third quarter push that blew open what had been a tight game into a one-sided finish.
A similarly large victory will be on the Neptune wish-list tomorrow night considering the new double-legged format for the cup this season which will see both teams meet again a week later in Galway.
