Rockets face Warriors in final home game of 2017

Reading Rockets (6-2) will be in action for the final time this year at home when they host Leicester Warriors (2-6) on Sunday evening at Rivermead Leisure Complex, 5pm tip-off. Rockets split last weekend’s game as they lost out to the current NBL Division One league leaders, Loughborough Student Riders by 71 points to 61 before redeeming themselves with a hard fought 83-72 win away at Kent Crusaders to keep up the heat at the top of the league going into their final two games of 2017. Sunday’s opponents Leicester Warriors have had a difficult start to their league campaign only winning two of their opening eight games but the Midlands team’s two wins have come in the last three games and they will be hoping to take a top of the table scalp as they look to continue their better form.

Rockets Head Coach Manuel Peña Garcès left last weekend with mixed feelings but knows his team has an opportunity to finish the year strong before the Christmas break and can use this period to improve on things and prepare thoroughly for their next two encounters. The Spanish play-caller said,

[su_quote]We played three really good quarters against Loughborough on Saturday but had another poor fourth quarter so that is a concern we will take forward and work on as it cost us the game and nearly affected the outcome on Sunday too. That said, we are playing better basketball and being much more competitive but now we need to make sure we remain focused and disciplined in the key moments, something we will address as a group this week.

This weekend’s game against Leicester will be a tricky one, as despite their league position, they are always difficult to play against because of their physicality and commitment to playing. We will need to do a good job in making sure we are prepared for their individual players and tendencies but the focus will be on ourselves to take another step in the right direction and be ready in more moments as well as being better in the difficult ones.[/su_quote]

Rockets go into Sunday’s game against Leicester with no new injury concerns with Americans Scotty Hendricks and Tim Gill recovering from their respective injuries to make it through last weekend’s match-ups. The Berkshire club will be hoping to keep up their impressive record against Sunday’s visitors having beaten their opponents in the last 11 league outings going back to the beginning of 2012 with a win for the Reading team a must if they are to keep up the pace at the top of NBL Division One.

Prior to the game, the Rockets Division One Women will be in action at 2.30pm as they host Team Solent Kestrels, also at Rivermead Leisure Complex. The Rockets Women are currently 3 and 2 in league play and Coach David Sanchez will be hoping his team can put their cup exit to Ipswich behind them and bounce back with a win against one of the league’s most established teams but who are in a bit of trouble near the bottom of the table with only two wins from their first eight outings.

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