Basketball: Bett ready to gamble on Americans

In a week when two more emigres returned to the Budweiser League from Continental clubs, Mick Bett, the Thames Valley Tigers coach, is waiting for his full quota of five Americans to make an impact on the season, writes Richard Taylor.

After seven league defeats out of eight, and a "crisis meeting" this week between Bett, the players and the owner John Nike, Tigers produced one of their most combative performances of the season on Thursday, a 92-89 defeat against league leaders, London Leopards.

"A lot was said at the meeting but it's only on court we can turn things around." Bett said. "We're a losing team and some of the players have not been taking the situation seriously enough."

Tigers are at home to Crystal Palace in the 7-Up trophy tonight.

The England internationals, Carl Miller and Kurt Samuels, who joined Portuguese and Italians clubs in the summer, face each other tonight for their new teams. Samuels plays for Birmingham Bullets against Miller's visiting Newcastle Eagles.