London, England — Will Neighbour prepare well for emotional and physical shakings as Newcastle Eagles dem face Leicester Riders for di Super League Basketball Play-Off Final tomorrow.
For dis season wey no be easy for am, di veteran centre show say e fit still get plenty work to do. E don come out of injury wey hold am down earlier for di season and now e don ready to join im teammates for di big game wey go happen for O2 Arena.
“At di start of di year, I get serious injury but I don recover,” Neighbour talk. “Na just to fit back into di squad I dey focus on, but sometimes di guys dey play well and e hard for me to enter de rotation. I just wan be good teammate throughout dis tough season.”
Will Neighbour, wey just turn 35 on Thursday, don dey play British basketball for 10 years. E don experience plenty rivalries wey dey happen in dis league, but e believe say di one wey dey between Newcastle and Leicester no get match. “Dis rivalry big,” e talk. “When you mention British basketball rivalries, na Newcastle and Leicester wey dey top di list.”
Di last time di two teams meet, tension high as e involve serious injuries and ejections. Neighbour don feel di heat, and e sure say plenty emotions go dey for di game. “We dey work hard all season to reach dis final, and na Leicester wey dey face. Dis season don dey more about mental challenge for me than physical, but everybody dey ready to throw everything wey dey dem for di game.”
As di Eagles prepare for di final, Neighbour don turn out to be key player 48 hours before di big match. With injuries wey keep Malcolm Delpeche, Darius Defoe, and De’Sean Allen-Eikens out, di team need make sure say dem ready. Neighbour don play 22 minutes across di semi-final legs against London, so e dey ready to feature against Leicester.
“Whether na practice or di court, I dey always feel like part of dis close-knit team,” Neighbour explain. “Being a veteran, I go dey ready to contribute in any way possible. E fit be to guide di younger players, and I go do anything wey go help di team climb back to where e belong.”
Neighbour sabi wetin e dey do; e fit shoot three-pointers well, e get physical presence for di paint, and im wingspan dey legendary. Missing di SLB Trophy final for January make am wan perform well against Leicester. “As I dey approach di end of my career, dis weekend na about winning,” e talk. “I go do anything wey I fit do.”
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