This week saw the first round of the IOMBBA 2010 Cup with action from both the Men's & Ladies leagues. In the Ladies league Sleepwell Slammers were drawn against Panthers, with the other three teams automatically qualifying for the semi-finals. The Men's league saw four tough games with Microgaming Cavaliers playing Pokerstars, Western against Pinoy Rams, GB Marvels versus Outback Hoppers and a close game between Ron Smith's Turkeys and Timbermann Tigers. For the full match report click read more...

 
Men's Cup
The first round of the men's cup took place on Thursday night at the NSC, first game of the evening was the clash between joint league leaders Microgamimg Cavaliers and Poker Stars in a game they were expected to win comfortably. With Cavs taking control of the game from the outset, they ran out easy winners 98 - 18. The second game was the clash between Pinoy Rams and Western Warriors with both teams looking for the victory that would keep their season alive. In a closely contested first quarter, it the was the Rams who held a slender two point lead going into the second period. With both teams continuing to play good defence in the second and third quarters, the game was evenly poised going into the final quarter, with the Rams holding a seven point lead 32 - 25. The start of the final period saw the Rams begin to hit their outside shots and with Warriors unable to respond they eventually took the game 54 - 32.

The other two game in the men's cup were the eagerly awaited clash between Ron Smiths Turkeys and Timbermann Tigers, with both teams looking to keep their league and cup double alive and the game between GB Marvels, looking to upset the odds against Outback Hoppers. The game between Turkeys and Tigers lived up to expectations, with both teams trading baskets throughout the game, Turkeys held a one point lead going into the final quarter, 43 - 42. Opening with a big '3-pointer' form Paul Ellison in the final quarter, it was Turkeys who took the initiative and with some strong inside plays from Simon Elson they eventually ran out 58 - 45 winners. The game between Hoppers and Marvels, saw both teams using their fast break game to good effect and in a tight first half it was Hoppers who held the advantage at the break 31 - 22. The second half saw Hoppers stretch their lead and ran out winners by nineteen points 61 - 42, highlight of the game for Hoppers was the five '3-pointer' hit by Chris Wolfendale while some excellent outside shooting from Ben Campbell and Michael Williams for the Marvels kept them in the game in the first half.

Ladies Cup
The only ladies cup game played saw Sleepwell Slammers reach the semi-finals with a 41 - 36 victory over Panthers. A strong opening to the game by Slammers saw them build up a 10 point lead and despite the best efforts of Panthers in the second half they were unable to claw back the deficit

Fixtures for 28 January 2010
NSC Court 1
6.00pm Poker Stars v Pinoy Rams (M)
7.20pm Timbermann Tigers v Ron Smiths Turkeys (M)
8.40pm Microgaming Cavaliers v Western Warriors (M)

NSC Court 2
6.00pm GB'z  v West 1(J)
7.20pm GB'a v Southern (J)