Birmingham Panthers fired up for NIA debut

Jan 10 2008

IT IS back to the National Indoor Arena on Sunday for Birmingham basketball fans.

The city's new franchise, Birmingham Panthers, make their debut at the venue as a curtain-raiser to the BBL Cup final between Newcastle Eagles and Milton Keynes Lions.

Panthers take on local rivals Worcester Wolves (1pm) and watching Nigel Lloyd's team there will doubtless stir memories of the great nights at the NIA in the Harry Wrublewski era when Lloyd was the playmaker for the crack Birmingham Bullets of the 1990s.

After the match, Panthers stars Rob Paternostro and Adam Williams will take part in the Molten Three-Point Shootout (3pm).

Representatives from every BBL team will be firing up 25 shots from beyond the arc over two rounds to decide the best sharpshooter in the country.

At 4pm, the league's top two teams go head-to-head for the BBL Cup.

Ex-Bullets favourite Fabulous Flournoy leads the Eagles against a Lions side aiming for their first ever piece of silverware.

To add to the local spice, ex-Bullets Shawn Jamison, Yorick Williams and Kevin Griffin are on the Lions roster.

Tickets, priced from £15 for adults and £10 for children (booking fee may apply), cover the whole day's entertainment.

They are available from the NIA Box Office on 0870 909 4144 or online at www.theticketfactory.com