National Cup preview: 12/13 November 2022

The various National Cup competitions continue to progress, with January's finals now just a few months away.

The Men's competition is down to 30 teams, with D1M teams entering into the mix to spice things up.

That leaves D3 teams like Preston BC, Milton Keynes, Surrey Scorchers II and more with dreams of a giant killing by the time the weekend is over.

On the Women's side, 16 teams remain, with some tasty looking match ups on the slate for Sunday. That includes former winners Anglia Ruskin heading to high-flying Brent Bulls, and current holders Stockport taking on D1W's Bristol Flyers.

All the teams will be battling it out for a place in January's final at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester, set to take place across the weekend of 21/22 January 2023.

To mark Remembrance Sunday this weekend, Basketball England will allow members the opportunity to pay respects to those who served and sacrificed to defend our nation.

To commemorate those people, teams can observe one minute’s silence across all NBL, WNBL, Jnr. NBL and National Cup games that take place on the weekend of 12/13 November 2022.

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Solent won last season's NBL National Cup, led by MVP Orlan Jackman

D1M enters the fold

There's one game tomorrow to kickstart the Cup weekend, with D1M strugglers Reading Rockets hosting Cardiff Met Archers.

With the Rockets 0-5 in league play and Cardiff sat at 4-1 in the D3 South West conference, could an upset be on the cards?

Sunday's schedule contains the remaining 13 fixtures, with plenty to enjoy from an impressive selection.

There's a North West derby between Manchester Magic and Preston BC, whilst Derby Trailblazers take on Leicester Warriors, who were relegated from D1M in 2020/21. 

There's an all South coast affair between Worthing Thunder and Brighton Bears, and Essex Rebels and London Lions II play out a D1M vs D1M contest.

Last year's winners Team Solent Kestrels and beaten finalists Team Newcastle University both have a bye, though this is the competition's final stage with teams progressing in that manner.

Four wins from glory 

16 teams form eight ties in the WNBL National Cup this weekend, meaning each side is now just four wins away from etching their name on the famous trophy.

Holders Stockport Lapwings did just that a year ago, they head to D1W strugglers Bristol Flyers on Sunday.

Last year's finalists Team Solent Kestrels have a home tie against the most successful team in the competition's history, Sheffield Hatters II.

The Hatters made it to the quarter-finals last season and will hope to match that run with a win in that one.

There's a trio of all D1W ties to look forward to as well, with Reading Rockets entertaining CoLA Southwark PrideBrent Bulls heading to Anglia Ruskin University and Ipswich playing host to Thames Valley Cavaliers.

There's also guaranteed to be one D2 name in the hat for this year's QFs, with Manchester Mystics and City of Birmingham Rockets going head-to-head from outside the top flight.

U18 Women's winners CoLA are still in the mix for 2022/23 glory

Sure Shot cups hotting up

In the Jnr. NBL, the four cup competitions are at various stages right now.

In the U18 Men's competition, the last 16 teams are close to being decided.

St Helens Saints are still in the mix after they beat reigning champs Manchester Magic last weekend, whilst an all-London tie between Baltic Stars and Haringey Hawks looks like a match up to keep tabs on.

In the U18 Women's cup, three of the four semi-finalists are already confirmed, with holders CoLA hosting Manchester Mystics and Team Solent Kestrels travelling to the winner of Milton Keynes and Ipswich.

That game will take place this coming Tuesday, 15 November, with the semis set to play out on 4 December.

Like the U18s, the U16s boys have reached the last 16, with all eight ties scheduled for next Sunday, 20 November.

Last year's beaten finalists Richmond Knights host Sussex Bears, and there's a tasty local tie between Manchester Giants and Trafford Magic to look forward to.

The final four is now confirmed in the U16 girls competition, with Manchester Mystics hosting Team Solent Kestrels and Ipswich welcoming Richmond Knights for a ticket to January's final.

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