Playoff action returns to PlaySport this weekend as Gladiators have up to three games in just as many days between the men’s and women’s sides, including a road trip to Newcastle for the men, a home game against Durham Palatinates for the women, and a possible third leg matchup with the Eagles at home for the men.
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Following a tough defeat to the Tyneside team at PlaySport on Sunday, Gareth Murray’s Gladiators travel to the North East to take on Marc Steutel’s side in a win-or-go-home second-leg matchup. A win would take the series to game 3 on Sunday at PlaySport!
At the weekend, the Eagles defeated the Gladiators 78-97 in a sub-par performance from the hosts. Jordan Johnson led the way for the Eagles, who scored 31 of the visitors’ near century of points, also adding 2 rebounds and 7 assists off the bench. For Caledonia, Patrick Whelan was the top scorer with a solid outing of 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
During the regular season, the sides matched up well, and the games between the two have been full of action and drama. Across four Championship games, the teams split the series 2-2, each winning one game at home, and one on the road. Most recently, on the road in Newcastle at the end of March, Quade Green’s 32 points helped secure a solid 84-90, a result that would prove crucial in the Gladiators’ push to 3rd place.
Historically, the Eagles are the most successful franchise in British Basketball League history, which has included 27 pieces of silverware during the playing career of league veteran, Darius Defoe – the 39-year-old hopes to add #28 to the trophy cabinet. The Scottish franchise hasn’t won the playoffs since 2002-03 but hopes to bring another piece of silverware to PlaySport following last season’s Trophy Final success.
With the huge importance of the game, Gladiators will be on the lookout for a win to take the series to a third and final game at PlaySport on Sunday (tip TBC). Secure your tickets early HERE!
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After securing second place in the regular season and closing out the campaign with a loss to the London Lions, the Chantelle Handy-led Gladiators look to reach their first final since the franchise’s rebrand in 2022.
Heading into the playoffs as the second seed, the clear goal is to reach the Playoff Final in London on the 19th of May. The journey starts on Sunday at 12 PM as Durham Palatinates are in town for the one-and-done Quarter-Final.
During the regular season, the sides have matched up twice – with Caledonia winning comfortably in both games, and they look to make it 3-0 on the season with a win in front of the home crowd this Sunday. In October, the Palatinates became the first British side to visit PlaySport, with the Gladiators coming out 99-44 victors fuelled by 19 points from Ukrainian international, Yevheniia Putra. Then, in the reverse fixture in March, it was Hannah Robb who led the way with 19 of her own as Caledonia won 41-69.
Recently, Durham made headlines as their star, Janika Griffith Wallace put up a Women’s British Basketball League-record 50 points, including 10 made threes.
In the history of the league, neither side has won silverware, and both are looking to secure their first trophy in this post-season campaign, with the action concluding at London’s O2 on the 19th of May.
Secure your tickets for Sunday’s first Women’s British Basketball League Playoff game HERE!
