History lives and breathes yet again in the Women’s British Basketball League this weekend as Cardiff Met Archers play their first top flight game in their fabulous new facility.
Player-coach Stef Collins and her side will step out tomorrow afternoon against Team Northumbria for a WBBL Championship match-up that has got everyone at Archers excited and raring to go.
She said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be playing our first showcase event at the Archers’ Arena, which is the new, £5 million state-of-the-art sports facility investment by Cardiff Met University.
“It is a wonderful facility which will certainly increase our profile here at the University, along with generating a significant boost and buzz around the game of basketball in Wales and throughout the UK.
“We have had a number of Welsh National Teams use the facility for training and look forward to further establishing those links with Cardiff Met and Basketball Wales.”
“We are hoping to attract a record home crowd on the day,” continued Collins.
“As well as the game, there will be a performance by Jukebox Collective Performing Arts Academy based in Cardiff, our Junior U10 Academy players taking to the showcourt at half-time, along with other special guests.
“It will certainly be a fun filled day out for fans and family.”
“Meanwhile looking at the competition and game itself, we are excited to play Team Northumbria after a tough away loss in Newcastle at the beginning of the season.
“We are definitely in a better place at this stage of the campaign and will look to build upon our improved performance in the New Year.”
Prior to the action getting underway in South Wales, there will be Caledonia pride tipping off at home to Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters and looking for a first home victory – having recently got off the mark with a win at Wolves.
Oaklands themselves have a tough task to try and slow down the momentum of newly crowned Trophy winners Sevenoaks Suns on Sunday morning as they continue their search for an elusive first league success.
Leicester Riders will try to bounce back from their disappointment in Glasgow last weekend when they entertain Nottingham Wildcats in a local derby and top of the table showdown, while Barking Abbey Crusaders will also go up against Manchester Mystics on Sunday.