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Paternostro hails 'true champions' Riders

Rob Paternostro celebrates Leicester Riders' Super League Basketball play-off final win with players in the changing roomSuper League Basketball

Head coach Rob Paternostro has won 18 major titles while at the helm of Leicester Riders

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport, East Midlands
Charlie Slater
BBC East Midlands Today

Head coach Rob Paternostro says his Leicester Riders players proved themselves "true champions" by winning the Super League Basketball (SLB) play-off title after a season of near misses.

Riders eased to a 105-74 victory against Newcastle Eagles in Sunday's SLB showpiece event at London's O2 Arena to end a three-year trophy drought.

It was Leicester's last chance this term to end that barren run, having finished runners-up in the league table after crashing out of the SLB Cup and Trophy at the semi-final stages earlier this season.

"We played some great basketball this season but we weren't able to get over the hump in the other competitions," Paternostro told BBC East Midlands Today.

"So when we beat Sheffield in the second-leg classic play-off game, I felt like it was our time.

"I was so proud of the guys and happy for the guys because they deserved it, worked so hard this season and didn't let the losses in the semi-finals affect them.

"They always bounced back and that is what true champions do."

Leicester Riders players celebrate with the trophySuper League Basketball

Leicester Riders beat Newcastle Eagles to win their seventh play-off final

Three years without silverware is the longest the club had gone without getting their hands on a trophy since Paternostro won his first with the club in 2012.

The SLB Championship trophy was the 18th major honour he has won in his 17 years as Riders boss.

Jaylin Hunter, voted most valuable player in the play-offs, and Zach Johnson finished up as t top-scorers with 23 points each in a final that Leicester dominated from the outset.

The East Midlands club were 11 points up at half-time and by the time that was blown out to 20 in the third quarter, Paternostro saw his side "locked in" and in a "good position" to get the job done.

"As we left Leicester, we felt the guys were really prepared and knew everything about the opponent," Paternostro added.

"When I look back at all these trophies, it's not just about the ball going in the basket, or the great assist or the slam dunk, it's about the people that we had that were hard workers and good team-mates who were able to shine on the big day."

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