League and Trophy double header next up for unbeaten Rockets

Unbeaten Reading Rockets go into their second consecutive double header weekend in full flow having won nine straight games in all competitions as they look to make it three wins out of three in league play and claim top spot in their National Trophy pool. The Berkshire club travel to the East Midlands on Saturday afternoon to take on Leicester Warriors in their third NBL Division One game (3pm tip-off) before returning home to Rivermead on Sunday to host Hemel Storm in the National Trophy group stages (5pm tip-off).

Saturday’s opponents have had an indifferent start to the 2015/2016 winning only one game out of six in their National Trophy group as well as opening their account in NBL Division One with a loss last weekend at the hands of Manchester Magic losing 78-59. Hemel Storm visit Reading still with a major chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the National Trophy with three wins and two losses prior to an incredible weekend for Sunday’s visiting team after a 119-112 overtime loss to Derby Trailblazers in NBL Division One before exiting the National Cup at the hands of NBL Division Two side Loughborough Riders in round three.

Rockets Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces wasn’t completely satisfied with last weekend’s performances and knows his team will need to perform better ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leicester if they are to keep their winning streak
going. He said,

“We won two games this weekend which was good. We remained unbeaten, and advanced to the National Cup quarter final so that is obviously very pleasing. However, we need to improve our performances and some players must step up whilst we recover from the injuries we have had to captain Danny Carter and Joel Keeble.”

“This week will be about making some adjustments in our play as well managing our loads and making sure we have all of our players ready for what will for sure be a tough weekend.”

“Leicester is always a difficult place to go and win and they will be wanting to get their first league victory this weekend so I expect a tough and physical game on Saturday before facing a Hemel team that is always a danger to any opponent and that has given us problems in the past especially at the point guard position with the threat of Bode Adeluola.”

Rockets go into their double header weekend with some more positive news on the injury front. Shooting guard Joel Keeble looks set to be on the sidelines for just one more week but is likely to miss out for the two upcoming games and should return to action sometime next week. However the most promising news concerns captain Danny Carter who had been out of last weekend’s games with a knee complaint. The 26 year old visited a specialist on Monday who reassured the 6’9 forward that the injury wasn’t as serious as first thought and that he would be able to return to training very soon despite a diagnosis of patella tendonitis. Carter will be a game time decision ahead of this weekend’s two games where the Berkshire outfit have a chance to extend their unbeaten run to eleven.

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www.readingrockets.co.uk and follow the club on Twitter @rocketsreading.

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