Basketball: Peers tells Jets to beware the Bears

In the early days of the National Championship Cup Finals – Hoylake YMCA beat London Polytechnic 32-21 in the competition's first final in 1936 – the rare Americans on view were usually students attached to the nearest university.

It's Englishmen though, who will be in even shorter supply when holders Chester Jets face Brighton Bears at Birmingham's NIA tomorrow in the 24th final in its current format, as a National Cup separate from the National Championship. Even if Randy Duck does not play because of a hernia, the Bears will still have five – Sterling Davis, Rico Alderson, Mike Brown, Wilbur Johnson and Ralph Blalock. The Jets have Calvin Davis, Todd Cauthorn, Kenny Gregory, John Thomas and John McCord, plus New Zealander Pero Cameron.

At least Jets have an English coach, though former international Robbie Peers unashamedly makes it clear his only interest in developing English talent is as practice fodder for his foreigners.

Peers certainly matches his American counterparts in pre-game psychology, though stating that: "Brighton are a better team without Duck," was a warning shot to his players not to underestimate their opponents.

One comment, though, could misfire and inspire Wil Johnson, a Cup winner with the Sharks in 2000. Peers said: "Johnson usually plays his basketball with a towel round his head sitting on the bench," then added: "But this season he decided to do it on the court and I've been impressed with him."