Basketball: Humiliated Kings seek home comfort: Guildford nurse injuries

GUILDFORD Kings, aching from injuries and sore from the humiliation of a 45-point defeat in Greece on Thursday night, can be grateful that the fixture list has steered them clear of their major domestic challengers this weekend.

Chester Jets, 10th in the Budweiser League, face Guildford at the Spectrum Arena tonight as the Kings begin a three-week rehabilitation before their next date in the European Clubs Championship.

That 96-51 defeat against Olympiakos Piraeus followed last week's 97-71 loss against Mechelen in the opening game of their semi- final group. Mechelen, the Belgian champions, who defeated Real Madrid 78-77 on Wednesday, are now the joint leaders of Group A with Olympiakos. Guildford's next European game is against the defending champions, Limoges, on 24 November.

'Eight of my players are carrying injuries and we haven't had a full squad at practice for weeks,' Kevin Cadle, the Kings coach, said. 'We need this time to get fit and get some bodies to training.'

But after two League defeats Cadle knows his players cannot afford any further slips. Thames Valley Tigers and Manchester Giants are poised to take over the pace at the top of the table, from Worthing Bears, and Manchester visit fourth- placed Guildford on Thursday.

The Giants coach, Jeff Jones, has won the season's first Budweiser Coach of the Month award, after an unbroken run of seven wins in October. Worthing's Herman Harried has won the player award.

BUDWEISER LEAGUE

P W L Pts

Worthing 11 9 2 18

Manchester 8 7 1 14

Thames Valley 8 7 1 14

Guildford 9 7 2 14

Derby 10 6 4 12

London 9 6 3 12

Birmingham 8 4 4 8

Sunderland 10 4 6 8

Leicester 9 3 6 6

Chester 8 3 5 6

Doncaster 8 1 7 2

Oldham 8 1 7 2

Hemel 10 0 10 0