The U20 Titans team secured back-to-back National League titles with an emphatic 78-46 victory over Templeogue at the National Basketball Arena last Friday.
Titans stamped their authority on the contest from the off as they stormed into a 12-0 lead. By the end of the first quarter, the Galway side were leading 22-10 with Declan Gbinigie racking up nine points by then.
The second quarter saw Titans' young guns embark on a 10-point run to lead 38-14 with 90 seconds of the half remaining. Templeogue did respond but the Titans damage was done and they went into the half-time with a 38-18 advantage.
This Titans U20 team have real fire power, with many of the roster having played vital roles in the senior team's push to National Division 1 championship final. Viktor Tashev, Fortune Igbokwe, Stephan Owede, Declan and Nathan Gbinigie have all made huge contributions to the senior play-off push.
Titans were in complete control and finished the third-quarter 58-32 to the good. The final quarter saw the reigning champions flex their muscles as they closed out an emphatic 32-point victory to claim the National League title for the second year on the bounce.
Speaking to National Basketball Ireland after the game, MVP Declan Gbinigie hailed his team's performance and noted the motivation his teammates had to make it two titles in-a-row.
"It is something we’ve had our eyes on since the start of the season, we knew we wanted to come out and show what we can do," said Gbinigie.
"We’ve worked so hard over the years, last year we won the league, so to go back-to-back in the league and go get the double as well. I think everybody showed up on the day, it was a great team performance and we were able to pull off a win."
Despite the U20 success, it was not to be for the senior side in their Division One final against Limerick Sports Eagles as they fell to a 82-63 defeat at the National Basketball Arena last Saturday night.
However, the imperious young charges at Titans gives immense hope that next season, the Galway side can go the extra yard and gain promotion to Ireland's elite basketball division.
