Sharks geared up for play-off final in front of 16,000 fans at O2 Arena

Excitement is rife amongst Sheffield fans as their team take on Leicester Riders for all the marbles at the London O2 arena on Sunday in the biggest British basketball game of the year.

As well as an NBA-sized crowd of 16,000 fans expected in the O2, the game is set to be broadcast on the BBC Red Button and online as the national spotlight shines on Sharks.

Sheffield find themselves in the big dance after brilliantly surviving huge scares against London Lions and Glasgow Rocks in the previous two rounds.

Sharks opposition doesn’t get any easier in the final, as Riders go into the game dreaming of a BBL treble and are favourites to make that dream a reality. In six previous meetings this season, Leicester have won four, Sheffield have taken one game and one match finished level.

Coach Atiba Lyons believes that the underdog tag will actually favour his side, however.

“When your back’s against the wall and everyone else expects them to win that’s when you have your best basketball sometimes,” coach Lyons said.

“We’ve got to believe in ourselves and believe in that.”

Sharks guard Jerrold Brooks was recently named in the 2015-2016 Molten BBL Team of the Year after a brilliant season. Just like his coach however, Brooks remains focused on the task in hand.

“It’s a great feeling and I’m happy to be in it,” Brooks said, “but that’s not my goal, I’m trying to win a Championship with this team.”

Tune in on the BBC Red Button or the BBC Sport website at 3:30pm on Sunday to see Sharks battle for the Playoff crown.