Garbelotto tips Newcastle to win Cup Final

For the first time in five BBL finals, Mersey Tigers play-caller Tony Garbelotto will have to watch the BBL Cup Finals as a spectator and not a coach.

The Londoner led the then Everton Tigers to the 2010 BBL Play-off title, and then guided Mersey to all three finals last season, suffering defeat this time last year in the BBL Cup final against Sheffield.

The club bounced back to win a treble, however, picking up the BBL Trophy, BBL Championship and BBL play-off titles.

Two players from the treble-winning team will be in action at the NIA in Birmingham on Sunday, with James Jones and Andy Thomson turning out for Plymouth and Newcastle respectively.

And Garbelotto is looking forward to a close game.

He said: “I think this game will be a contrast of offence [Plymouth] versus defence [Newcastle].

“I think it will be very tight. I think it will be decided by some small plays but I think with Newcastle’s big game experience, I have them winning by five points.

“The interesting match-ups are Defoe v Williams, Rowe v Thompson and Gause v Bell. The key could be Plymouth’s bench. Anthony Martin is a game changer and he could come in and give Newcastle problems. How much will Plymouth think about the loss they took up in Newcastle in November – will there be any carryover? If there is, this may also give Newcastle the edge.”