BBL Championship: Tigers coach Garbelotto unhappy with double derby schedule

Jan 20 2011 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

MERSEY Tigers coach Tony Garbelotto has hit out at the scheduling that has created the biggest weekend of the season for both his side and the Cheshire Jets.

The title rivals meet each other on Friday and again on Sunday.

“It is a quirk of the BBL scheduling and in my view it should not happen,” he said. “Saying this, it’s like the playoffs. You have little time to make adjustments and you rely on your system, conditioning and the players’ heart and desire to win.”

That heart and desire were strangely absent on Sunday in the BBL Cup final as Sheffield Sharks blew-out the Tigers at the NIA in Birmingham 93-66, Steve Dagostino draining a Cup final record eight three pointers from only 10 attempts.

“I think we are all still in shock,” said Garbelotto. “I think the players and myself are more disappointed in the fact we did not turn up to play.

“The team that played on Sunday did not resemble anything like the team that has played all season.”

The Tigers’ supremo is understandably wary of the Jet’s threat.

“The Jets have been fantastic the whole of the season,” he said.

“The most impressive aspect of their team has been the number of close games they have won. That shows me that they are a cohesive unit that will not give in at any time.

“Paul has done a tremendous job in keeping this team right in the title chase even with key players out.”