Basketball: Towers face individual tests

London Towers, the Budweiser League side, will again be England's only representatives in European Club competitions next season, but were given a formidable draw yesterday for their first-round group in the European Cup, writes Richard Taylor.

Towers open their 10-game schedule away to Hapoel Eilat in Israel on Tuesday 16 September in a group which is completed by Stefanel Milan, Beobanka Belgrade, Danone Honved, of Hungary, and the German team Tatami Rhondorf.

Kevin Cadle, the Towers coach, greeted the draw with the comment: "It's tough." Last season Towers finished fourth in their group to reach the last 32 knockout stage, but the Wembley-based club seem likely to face more talented individuals this time.

Milan include the former Orlando Magic NBA player, Anthony Bowie, Eilat have the Israeli League's assists leader in the American Corey Gaines, while the relatively unfashionable Rhondorf still include the Bundesliga's leading scorer, Richard Morton.

Cadle will have the chance to observe Rhondorf in the pre- season Adidas European Basket Ball challenge at Sheffield Arena on the last weekend in August, which is hosted by the Sharks and also including the Budweiser League champions, the Leopards, and Albacomp, of Hungary.

Towers warm up with their Sainsbury's classic tournament at Wembley against a high-class field of AEK Athens, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Red Star Belgrade.