Xavi Arriaga helps maintain Portlaoise poise as Panthers secure second win in Division One

Ulster University 66 

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers 80 

XABI Arriaga was delighted with the grit and composure he and his Portlaoise Panthers team mates were able to demonstrate in seeing off a tough Ulster University team in their National League Division One clash in Jordanstown Sports Village on Saturday evening.

Emerging the game’s top scorer on 24 points, Arriaga, himself, was a key factor in steadying the ship for Jack Scully’s side after they saw a 12-point advantage whittled away by their hosts, who drew level in the third quarter.

Indeed, Portlaoise managed to regain a six-point cushion by the start of the fourth period, during which, they put together a 13-point run to help ensure they made it two from two in this season’s campaign.

“Winning out there in Ulster, especially at the start of the season is great, because I’m telling you, there are a lot of teams who are going to lose out there” Arriaga told the Laois Nationalist.

“At the beginning of the season every game is a battle, especially away from home.

“A team like Ulster, who have come from the Super League, are used to competing against the top sides and they fought back from a poor first half.

“We were expecting something like that from them, but we fought our way right to the end and got that win” he smiled.

Arriaga, who made the move to Portlaoise from SETU Carlow in the off-season, was on fire for Panthers right from the off, chalking up 15 points for the visitors in the first quarter alone.

Indeed, he propelled his side from the blocks with a delightful three just 20 seconds in and, while Ulster managed to restore parity at five points apiece by way of buckets from Aaron Rooney and Conor Liston, the visitors did edge back in front and took a seven-point advantage (25-18) into the second quarter.

Baskets from Eric Anderson and Kevin Donohoe, coupled with a big three from Aleksandar Kovacevic, helped see Portlaoise enlarge that gap to 12 points within the first six minutes of the second quarter.

But the home side hung in there, as Liston delivered from both sides of the arc as well as from the free-throw line, while Shane Morgan and Curtis Larousse also got in for baskets to make it a nine-point game at the break (49-40).

Ulster carried that momentum into the third quarter and managed to restore parity at 53 points piece just over midway through that period thanks in no small measure to a big show from Larousse.

But just as the home side threatened to wrestle this game away from Panthers, the visitors dug in and re-established a six-point cushion heading into the final quarter, as Dylan Dunne, James Phelan and Arriaga all delivered from the free-throw line.

And Jack Scully’s men kept their foot firmly on the accelerator, putting together a 13-point run, as Liam Kinsella, Cillian O’Connell, Anderson and Donohoe all found the mark to help propel Portlaoise to a big victory on the road.

It was an encouraging win for Portlaoise and one that Arriaga, attributes largely to the depth in this season’s squad.

“Everybody who plays on the court gives something different to the team” he insisted. “It doesn’t matter if they play five minutes, ten minutes or more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in a team where 10-12 players can play 20 minutes per game at any level and that’s the difference here” he said.

ULSTER UNIVERSITY: Aaron Rooney, Conall Goan, Odhran Hegarty, Adam Ryan, Shane O’Connor, Andrew O’Connor, Conor Liston, Shane Morgan, Nathan Karren, Curtis Larousse.

Top Scorers: Conor Liston (16), Curtis Larousse (15), Shane Morgan (9).

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Cillian O’Connell, Dylan Dunne, James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Gary Morrissey, Xabi Arriaga, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Liam Kinsella.

Top Scorers: Xabi Arriaga (24), Eric Anderson (20), Aleksandar Kovacevic (7).