LIVE STREAM: Charnwood vs CoLA – EABL Final (5pm)
Watch live from 5pm as the two conference winners will contest the EABL final with North champs Charnwood College Riders taking on South winners City of London Academy – Southwark.
For the Londoners, 2023/24 marks their first trip to the EABL Final, going one step further than their last and only journey to the Final Fours back in 2015/16.
Their 10-2 regular-season record involved a tight race with both defending champs Barking Abbey and The Canterbury Academy, with coach Jay Williams’ side eventually coming through to seal top spot.
That race has led to further post-season wins, with CoLA beating a pair of North Conference foes in #4 seeds The Sheffield College 71-61 then #2 seeds Myerscough College 74-64.
Charnwood, on the other hand, will be looking to win it all for the first time since 2021/22, with the Midlands programme aiming to add another title to their three successes to date.
Like CoLA, the Riders were pushed hard in the regular season by Myerscough before eventually emerging victorious with a 10-2 record.
Charnwood suffered a scare in the opening round of the playoffs, narrowly edging past South #4 seeds JMA Reading Rockets 68-66. Their Final Four contest with holders Barking was more assured though, winning 75-60 to return to Manchester once more.
MVP honours went elsewhere in both Conferences this year, but that doesn’t mean there’s any lack of quality across these two programmes.
Edward Onyia was a very narrow second in the MVP voting behind Myerscough’s Tyrese Lacey and instead settles for a richly-deserved All Conference nod, where he’s joined by teammate Oscar Curran.
Isaac Fiagbe is CoLA’s only selection in the South’s standout five, with first year guard Khyle Capazana earning an All-2nd team pick along with U17 Player of the Year recognition.
CoLA head coach Williams is a back-to-back South COTY recipient and clearly has Southwark playing a great style of basketball. His tussle with Charnwood’s Will Maynard is also sure to be one to watch.
Charnwood College Riders head coach Maynard said: “It’s a privilege to be involved in another EABL final. All the players and all the staff have worked extremely hard to get to this point.
“We have to prepare as best as we can leading up to the final. The lads have bought in to everything we have done this year and they will all be up for the occasion.”
Charnwood’s Onyia said: “Reaching the EABL Final is a blessing and opportunity for Charnwood to add one more ‘chip to our name.
“I’m proud that we made it this far and that we’ve played so well as a team this season, we will make sure to leave it all out on the court.”
CoLA head coach Williams said:
“We are very grateful and very excited to be playing in the EABL Final and we will continue to play our style of basketball with patience and execution.
“We know Charnwood will be a tough opponent with good players and coaching staff so we are hoping it will be a good game for everyone to watch.
“Reaching the EABL Final means so much to every individual associated with the team and it’s definitely a massive milestone for not only our current team but for the legacy of CoLA.”
CoLA’s Khyle Capanzana:
“Approaching the EABL Final, we hope to come across a strong and competitive Charnwood team.
“The most that is expected of us is to play hard at a high level as well as to have fun and enjoy the moment.”
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