Basketball: War of words mars build-up

The build-up to the Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup Final, has been soured by comments from the Leicester City Riders coach, Bob Donewald, about his opposite number, Paul James.

James leads Thames Valley Tigers into the final at Sheffield Arena, after taking over from Mick Bett during the summer. But Donewald caused upset at both clubs by insinuating in a newspaper article that James went behind the back of Bett to have him ousted at Tigers.

They are the only two clubs in the league not to have met this season and both come into the final as underdogs, Tigers eliminating the holders, Greater London Leopards, in the last eight, while Riders beat London Towers in the semi-finals.