READING AND NEWCASTLE TO MEET IN HISTORIC BCB FINALE

A new chapter in British basketball will be written this Sunday as the Aldermore Reading Rockets take on the Newcastle Knights in the first-ever British Championship Basketball Playoff Final at Leeds Beckett Arena.

Both sides booked their place in the showpiece in Leeds with semi-final victories, though their paths to the final were different.

Reading delivered a commanding performance against the Milton Keynes Breakers, leading from the opening tip and never relinquishing control. They raced to a 21–8 advantage after the first quarter and maintained their intensity throughout, ultimately sealing an 85–64 win.

In contrast, Newcastle’s route to the final was defined by resilience and late-game execution against the City of Birmingham Rockets.

The Knights found themselves in a battle, trailing 93–92 with just over a minute remaining. However, they closed the game on a 9–2 run to secure a 101–95 victory, highlighting their mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure.

The last time they met 

Each side claimed a home victory during the regular season. Newcastle edged the first meeting on December 14, when JaRon Thames drove to the basket with three seconds remaining, which sealed a 95–93 win and helped the Knights secure top spot for a large stretch of the campaign.

Reading, however, responded emphatically in the return fixture on March 21 at Loddon Valley, stunning Newcastle with an explosive 11–0 start that ballooned into a remarkable 67–37 lead by half-time. They went on to claim a resounding 112–71 victory, which proved pivotal in their BCB league title triumph.

With both teams having demonstrated their ability to win in different ways, Sunday’s final promises to be a compelling contest. Reading will look to carry their dominant form onto the biggest stage, while Newcastle will be determined to avenge their heavy defeat and capture the inaugural playoff crown.

What the coaches said

“We are extremely happy to reach the playoff final and I am really happy for the guys as it’s been a hard season.

“However we have always stuck to our principles, believed in the system and each other, and always practiced really hard. We feel we deserve to be here, but we know we face a great team in Newcastle who have beaten some really good teams to get here, so we are going to have to play a great game.

“We are excited to be in the final and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters one more time this season. I am super proud of the players for what they’ve achieved this season and really happy for the Rockets organisation as a whole.”… Aldermore Reading Rockets head coach, Samit Nuruzade.

“We are really proud to be a part of the BCB Playoff final this weekend.

“We have been gathering momentum throughout our run, but we know that to beat Reading, we will need to take that to a whole new level.”… Newcastle Knights head coach, Mark Elderkin.

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