TONY Garbelotto and David Aliu were both in attendance at the Northgate Arena on Sunday scouting the Cheshire Jets as they took on Leicester Riders.
Mersey Tigers head coach Garbelotto and captain Aliu are both regular visitors to the Northgate due to the proximity of the two clubs, but with derby day approaching at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park tomorrow (7.30pm), their presence served a more serious purpose.
They may have witnessed the Jets suffer their seventh straight defeat, but they also saw John Lavery’s men deliver one of their best performances of the season in the fourth quarter and as both teams battle for a play-off spot, it is set to be a real humdinger.
“The Jets are the closest team to us, and both myself and John Lavery attend each others games regularly, so I think we know pretty much everything about each other,” said Garbelotto.
“I know that they will not give up, as was evidenced on Sunday against the Riders.
“Adam Brown has hurt us in the games we have played this season and Matt Schneck did not play in the last game.”
The sides have already met four times, taking wins off each other in the BBL Trophy before the Tigers beat the Jets in the Championship.
If the home side win tomorrow, they will hold the head-to-head advantage if both sides finish tied for the final play-off place at the end of the season.
But with both teams consistently inconsistent this season, the outcome is far from predictable.
