Basketball: First title secured by Giants

MANCHESTER GIANTS duly bagged their first trophy in the franchise's history on Saturday night, but were hardly out of the dressing-room before focusing on the next title in their sights.

Sheffield Sharks and the Budweiser League crown are next in line, following Giants' predictable 90-69 win over depleted Derby Storm in the Uni-ball League Trophy final at the NEC, the biggest winning margin in the event's history.

Giants hold a four-point lead over the Sharks at the top of the league and face them at Sheffield Arena on Friday night in the first of two encounters over the last three weeks of the regular season. Victory on Friday and a win over London Towers on Saturday night could clinch the title.

Derby faced Giants without the injured Nick Donovan and suspended Rico Alderson and Yorick Williams, but stayed with them until the interval.

Ronnie Baker, of Giants and England, set a three-point record for the final by hitting five. Derby's Joel Burns scored 20 and Nate Reinking 16. Manchester's Tony Dorsey led all the scorers with 28.