Arriaga insists composure is key to seeing Portlaoise prevail in National Cup semi-finals

FOR ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers player, Xabi Arriaga, composure will be key to successfully negotiating the huge challenge that Titans BC are sure to pose when the two sides clash in the semi-finals of the President’s National Cup in Parochial Hall on Saturday night.

While this remains completely new territory for Portlaoise, who have never before made the last four of Men’s National Cup competition, Arriaga insists they should treat it no differently than they would any other game.

Indeed, Jack Scully’s side have yet to taste defeat this season, having gone 12 and 0 in Division One, propelling them nine points clear at the summit of the North Conference.

And Arriaga believes that demonstrating the same poise that has seen them remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the National League so far this season will serve them well when they take on a Titans side looking to also avenge their 31-point reversal at their hands back in November.

“People are excited, but at the same time we know we have to just put the foot on the brakes,” Arriaga told the *****Laois Nationalist*****.

“This is a big game where probably everybody in the country is expecting us to win, but we don’t buy into that narrative.

“We know we have to treat this as just one more game, that happens to be against Titans and happens to be in the National Cup semi-final.

“It’s about knowing where we are and knowing that we have to stay calm and play the way we have been playing most of the season.

“Our record, and having beaten Titans already, probably does, on paper, put more pressure on us, but the fact is, the Titans who came here to St. Mary’s Hall in November, came with a different narrative than the Titans we’ll be playing in the cup semi-finals.

“They were 6 and 0 at the time, they were unbeaten and when they went down by about 15 points they started losing what they were.

“We know it’s going to be a different team. Their American Mike Hayes is hooping like crazy, so it’s going to be a battle and we just have to respect them, respect the team they are, because they are 8 and 3 in the league” he said.

For Arriaga, the strength of character that Portlaoise have recently shown in edging a one-point overtime win away to Limerick Sport Eagles last Saturday and a two-point victory at home to Ulster University the week before is something that should also stand to them.

The Spaniard insists that ability to dig out results when their backs are to the wall is rooted in both the experience of the new additions to the squad this year, as well as the desire of the young Portlaoise players to help see their club break new ground in Irish basketball.

“We probably have the advantage of having players who are more experienced in the league,” he said.

“Myself, I’ve been in Ireland for six years, Kevin Donohoe has been playing for 15 years and has cup semis and cup finals on his back and Eric Anderson, being a second year American, having played in Super League, I really think all that helps us.

“And at the same time, the desire of all those young guys in Portlaoise, who have never been in this situation before, there’s just such a mix of good things.

“For us, this Saturday will be about not letting our heads drop if the other team goes on a run, because we know that, at any point in the game, we can go on a run. We know we’re capable of coming back from any situation.

“We’ve played a couple of games where we haven’t been at our best, like against Limerick Sport Eagles last weekend.

“But the way we finish, the way we played the last minute or two of those close games, with patience, knowing where to pass the ball, who to pass the ball to, or just how to play that last possession, while also playing better defence in those last few minutes, that has been the key to us sealing those games,” he insisted.

Arriaga will certainly be going all out to help see Portlaoise make it over the line again this weekend, knowing just what reaching the National Cup decider would mean to the Panthers players and the club as a whole.

“It’s been huge just making it to Cork,” he said. “We’re bringing a bus with supporters there.

“If we do the right thing and we make it to Tallaght, that’s probably going to be the biggest game in the history of the men’s side of the club.

“Everybody’s excited. It’s a big week and everybody’s going to be nervous, but we’ve got to remember that it’s just one more game,” he stressed.

By Stephen Leonard FOR ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers player, Xabi Arriaga, composure will be key to successfully negotiating the huge challenge that Titans BC are sure to pose when the two sides clash in the semi-finals of the President’s National Cup in Parochial Hall on Saturday night.

While this remains completely new territory for Portlaoise, who have never before made the last four of Men’s National Cup competition, Arriaga insists they should treat it no differently than they would any other game.

Indeed, Jack Scully’s side have yet to taste defeat this season, having gone 12 and 0 in Division One, propelling them nine points clear at the summit of the North Conference.

And Arriaga believes that demonstrating the same poise that has seen them remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the National League so far this season will serve them well when they take on a Titans side looking to also avenge their 31-point reversal at their hands back in November.

“People are excited, but at the same time we know we have to just put the foot on the brakes,” Arriaga told the *****Laois Nationalist*****.

“This is a big game where probably everybody in the country is expecting us to win, but we don’t buy into that narrative.

“We know we have to treat this as just one more game, that happens to be against Titans and happens to be in the National Cup semi-final.

“It’s about knowing where we are and knowing that we have to stay calm and play the way we have been playing most of the season.

“Our record, and having beaten Titans already, probably does, on paper, put more pressure on us, but the fact is, the Titans who came here to St. Mary’s Hall in November, came with a different narrative than the Titans we’ll be playing in the cup semi-finals.

“They were 6 and 0 at the time, they were unbeaten and when they went down by about 15 points they started losing what they were.

“We know it’s going to be a different team. Their American Mike Hayes is hooping like crazy, so it’s going to be a battle and we just have to respect them, respect the team they are, because they are 8 and 3 in the league” he said.

For Arriaga, the strength of character that Portlaoise have recently shown in edging a one-point overtime win away to Limerick Sport Eagles last Saturday and a two-point victory at home to Ulster University the week before is something that should also stand to them.

The Spaniard insists that ability to dig out results when their backs are to the wall is rooted in both the experience of the new additions to the squad this year, as well as the desire of the young Portlaoise players to help see their club break new ground in Irish basketball.

“We probably have the advantage of having players who are more experienced in the league,” he said.

“Myself, I’ve been in Ireland for six years, Kevin Donohoe has been playing for 15 years and has cup semis and cup finals on his back and Eric Anderson, being a second year American, having played in Super League, I really think all that helps us.

“And at the same time, the desire of all those young guys in Portlaoise, who have never been in this situation before, there’s just such a mix of good things.

“For us, this Saturday will be about not letting our heads drop if the other team goes on a run, because we know that, at any point in the game, we can go on a run. We know we’re capable of coming back from any situation.

“We’ve played a couple of games where we haven’t been at our best, like against Limerick Sport Eagles last weekend.

“But the way we finish, the way we played the last minute or two of those close games, with patience, knowing where to pass the ball, who to pass the ball to, or just how to play that last possession, while also playing better defence in those last few minutes, that has been the key to us sealing those games,” he insisted.

Arriaga will certainly be going all out to help see Portlaoise make it over the line again this weekend, knowing just what reaching the National Cup decider would mean to the Panthers players and the club as a whole.

“It’s been huge just making it to Cork,” he said. “We’re bringing a bus with supporters there.

“If we do the right thing and we make it to Tallaght, that’s probably going to be the biggest game in the history of the men’s side of the club.

“Everybody’s excited. It’s a big week and everybody’s going to be nervous, but we’ve got to remember that it’s just one more game,” he stressed.