Paternostro’s Riders on the brink of BBL Championship success

Like the fictional T1000 robot from the Terminator films, Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro is showing no emotion as his team enter a potential BBL Championship clinching game against the Durham Wildcats on Saturday.

Speaking to the Leicester Riders Head Coach ahead of the weekend, it was clear that Saturday’s game against the Wildcats represents nothing more than an opportunity for his relentless Terminator-style Leicester Riders side to notch another victory in a record-breaking season – what would be their 27th of the season. And just as with the other 26 league victories that his side have so far claimed, it all starts with the defence:

“This season we’ve been able to play different styles of defence,” said Paternostro. “We’ve shown the ability to be consistent on the defensive end and have the ability for it to be a weapon for us.

“I think it’s very important for us to be intelligent: Understanding the opposition, making sure that before we go into a game we know what we’re trying to do on that particular night (and) the fresh bodies that we continue to send out there, allows us to continue to give that commitment on the defensive end.”

T1000-Paternostro’s side had previously shown a T1000-ish ability to remain healthy this season until a packed March schedule caught up with them, resulting in starting pair, Zaire Taylor (lower limb) and Pavol Losonsky (back), being sidelined with injury. But a rare six-day break has allowed the Riders to rest up ahead of Saturday’s game and Paternostro is hopeful it will give him a full roster to call on.

“This rest has been good for us,” Paternostro said. “We’ve been battling through some things ever since the semi-final of the Trophy. Over this week, we’ve been able to get refreshed…a lot of our guys have been able to get some rest.”

And on the subject of whether Taylor or Losonsky will see action, Paternostro added “We like the way that things have been progressing but we won’t know until game time.”

The unrelenting nature of the T1000-Riders and their T1000-coach has seen them immediately regroup after defeats in 2012/13, with the only back-to-back losses coming in the Trophy where they lost by four points in the semi-final and Final combined. Part of the reason the Riders have been so strong has been their home record, where they have lost only once all year.

“Saturday night at John Sandford has had a fantastic atmosphere,” said Paternostro. “I’m sure our supporters will be especially amped up for this one.”

T1000 Paternostro may not show any emotion as his side look for John Connor win number 27 and the title but if the Riders beat the Wildcats on Saturday you can be sure that T1000-Paternostro will morph into the happiest man in the gym.

Tip-off at the John Sandford Sports Centre is at 7:30pm.