British Basketball League: Leicester Riders pull away to beat Manchester Giants 83-69 in BBL Cup final
Leicester Riders defeat Manchester Giants and remain on course for a league and cup double as they also lead the Championship standings
Last Updated: 30/01/22 7:02pm
Leicester Riders claimed a third British Basketball League Cup title with an 83-69 win over Manchester Giants in the final.
A 30-point second quarter proved the catalyst for Rob Paternostro's side to clinch the trophy for the first time since 2014, which followed success a year earlier in 2013.
While Giants made it an eight-point game on numerous occasions during the final quarter, it was Riders who held on to triumph at the Utilita Arena.
Josh Steel got the scoring under way and it helped Manchester move into a 20-15 advantage by the end of the opening 10 minutes.
It was during the second quarter where Leicester turned the screw, inspired by Geno Crandall, who would eventually finish with a game-high 26 points in Birmingham.
A three-pointer by Darien Nelson-Henry concluded a 10-minute period which produced 30 points for Riders and put them in control of the final.
Giants edged the next quarter and made it a nine-point game ahead of an exciting finale, but Leicester would not be denied.
Paternostro's team scored the last six points of the final to claim a winning margin of 14 and remain on course for a league and cup double as they also lead the Championship standings following 10 rounds of fixtures.
"It is a great feeling," the Riders head coach told Sky Sports.
"I said to the guys in the locker room before the game to enjoy it, enjoy this, and I thought they did.
"I'm very proud of them. I thought they competed for the full 40 minutes and mentally they were solid all the way through."
