Gladiators visit EK school ahead of BBL final
Published: Friday 24 March 2023
Players from Scotland’s top basketball team visited an East Kilbride school ahead of their huge cup final this weekend.
Jonny Bunyan and Kyle Jimenez from Caledonia Gladiators gave a masterclass in the sport to Duncanrig Secondary School pupils ahead of the highly anticipated upcoming British Basketball League (BBL) Trophy Final on Sunday.
The players were among the special guests to visit the school, donating branded merchandise including foam fingers, foam gladiator helmets and clappers.
The club will compete in the club’s first BBL Trophy Final in nine years against Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday 26 March in front of a sell-out 6,000 crowd at Emirates Arena. Youngsters from the school will be there cheering on the side.
Chris Fabian, Principal Teacher of Pupil Support and Head Basketball Coach at Duncanrig Secondary School, said: “We were delighted to have Gladiators players Jonny Bunyan and Kyle Jimenez come along to our school and work with some of our own budding young basketball players.
“All the pupils who had the opportunity to train with them enjoyed it immensely and hopefully some of them may be inspired to elevate their own game in the years to come.
“Everyone at the school would like to wish the Caledonia Gladiators all the very best at the British Basketball League finals at the weekend.”
Gareth Murray, Caledonia Gladiators Head Coach, said: “We can’t wait for the trophy final. Cheshire Phoenix is a tough operation but Gladiators are playing well and we’re building momentum with every match.
“Playing to a sell-out crowd on home soil is a superb opportunity for us to make history for the club. Having support from kids, families and sporting fans from all over Scotland means the world to us and hearing that roar of the home-crowd will be the added motivation for us to secure the win.”
Caledonia Gladiators secured their place in the BBL Trophy Final after defeating Derby Trailblazers 83-65 earlier this month in the semi-final.
It is the first time they have reached the Final since they lost 83-76 to Worcester Wolves in 2013/14. It is also a chance for the club to win their first silverware since they won the BBL Playoffs in 2002/3.
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