Newcastle happy to be back winning silverware

Star of the show Charles Smith and player-coach Fab Flournoy were delighted to see their Newcastle Eagles back amongst the trophies after their impressive defeat of Plymouth in the BBL Cup Final.

Smith won the MVP with 39 points, while Flournoy himself chipped in with seven rebounds and five assists.

Renowned as one of the big names of British Basketball, the Eagles’ last taste of trophy success was when the won the BBL Championship in 2009/10, and Flournoy admitted it was great to get back that winning feeling.

He said: “Words can’t describe how happy we are to be back in this place, winning trophies.

“It’s a fantastic feeling. It feels like the first time we won something as an organisation. Absence brings back the love.”

Last season, Mersey Tigers picked up three of the four trophies on offer, having also won the BBL play-off final the previous season. Newcastle take the BBL Cup title off Sheffield Sharks, who defeated the Tigers 12 months ago.

It was the Tigers who beat Newcastle in both BBL Cup and BBL Trophy semi-finals last season, as well as pipping them to the BBL Championship title.

Smith added: “It hurt us last year not winning a trophy.

“That’s the reason most of us came back this season – to win silverware, and hopefully it’s one of many to come.”