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New format suits us fine say Sharks
Sheffield Sharks' management have welcomed modifications to new season's BBL schedule.
With a new team, Essex Pirates, added to the league the BBL has reduced the overall fixture list by making the Trophy competition a straight knockout - a change from groups of three or four in the first round last season.
The Trophy will include the top three EBL Division 1 teams from last season – Reading Rockets, Manchester Magic and London Leopards – and the 13 BBL clubs.
The first round and quarter-finals will be one-off games, with the semi-finals contested over two legs and being decided on aggregate score. The final of the Trophy will be at a central venue.
Sharks director Sarah Backovic said: "With three extra games the addition of Essex will bring, making the Trophy a knock-out tournament in the early rounds is a good decision.
"We're also excited about the new format in the play-offs. It will make for some tense encounters for a place in the final."
The post-season quarter-final games will remain as one-off encounters (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5) but the semi finals will now be played over two legs with the higher seed having choice of home advantage in the either the first or second leg – aggregate scores will determine the victors.
The climax of the season will now be a single day showpiece event in early May.
The BBL Cup format will remain the same as last season.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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