Basketball: Kings nearer crown: Push for play-offs

KEVIN CADLE, the Guildford Kings coach, and his veteran playmaker, Alton Byrd, put their broadcasting careers on hold on Saturday night to steer the side to the Budweiser League play-off finals at Wembley Arena on 30 April and 1 May with a 66-53 win over London Towers, writes Duncan Hooper.

Byrd missed the first game in the quarter-final series when he hosted a radio sports show. The Kings won 61-60, but lost the second game 79-77 at home last week while Cadle was appearing on a televised NBA basketball programme.

'We were doing the jobs that pay the money,' said Cadle who, like his players, is still owed salary by the Kings.

Karl Brown opened the second quarter with a three-point shot for Guildford who held London to just four points over the next 10 minutes to lead 40-26 at the interval.

'We played man-for-man, zone, box defence and oppress,' Cadle said. Ronnie Baker played a key role in subduing London's shooter, Joel Moore.

Byrd's role was also critical as he slowed the Guildford offence while Carl Miller and Martin Henlan, with 19 rebounds, controlled the boards.

Guildford will now play Manchester Giants in the semi- finals while the holders, Worthing Bears, face Derby Bucks.

Scores, Sporting Digest, page 31