Basketball Weekend previews: Neptune's disastrous Superleague campaign shows no sign of improving in 2006 as Michael Evans becomes their third coach of the season.
Formerly in charge of the now defunct Waterford, Evans replaces the 29-year-old American Ozell Wells, who was parachuted in for Cristiano Sias back in October.
Sias's departure from Cork - he was released just one week into the season - was far from amicable, the Italian citing poor living conditions and lack of support from club officials.
Neptune have just one victory this season, have lost nine, and lie bottom of the South Conference - and hopes of qualifying for the play-offs have further evaporated with the bad news that Bosman signing Adam Piszczuk has left the club. In true Superleague tradition, the 6ft 5in Australian failed to return after the Christmas break.
They appear to be fodder for Saturday's trip to Dublin to play St Vincent's, although the North Conference leaders are without American scholarship student Philip Taylor, who has opted out of Irish basketball.
Also on Saturday, Limerick and Killester meet in a dress rehearsal for the National Cup semi-final the following week.
On Wednesday the appeals committee upheld a two-game ban on coach Killester coach Sasa Punosevac. Having stayed courtside pending the appeal, the Serbian will miss the next two weekends.
Ballina travel to Tralee to play a Tigers team weakened by the absence of Kieran Donaghy and Michael Quirke, who are in New York with the Kerry football panel. Having won their last three games on the road - against Killarney, Star of the Sea and UCD - Ballina are in touching distance of the play-offs, four points ahead of third-placed Killester. The Mayo men are out next Sunday against UCC Demons in the Cup.
In the Women's Superleague, Mercy host UL Aughinish, who have "signed" American Courtney McDaniel and also welcome back Dearbhla Breen.
Elsewhere, St Paul's face Meteors, the Dynamos play the Wildcats in Waterford, and Glanmire entertain Killester.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
TOMORROW: Men's Superleague: Limerick Lions v Killester, UL Arena, 7.30; St Vincent's v Neptune, St Vincent's CBS, 7.30; Tralee Tigers v Ballina, Tralee SC, 8.0; Women's Superleague: Mercy v UL Aughinish, Mount Temple, 6.30; Meteors v St Paul's, St Olaf's, 6.45; Wildcats v Dynamos, Mercy Gym, 7.30; Glanmire v Killester, Little Island, 7.30.
