Reading Rockets head coach Manuel Pena Garces is looking forward to the challenges that await in the new year as his side get back to action this weekend.
Rockets (7-3) resume their league campaign with a home double header, as they look to begin 2018 in a winning manner, and strengthen their top five league position.
They welcome Lancashire Spinners (0-11) on Saturday before Team Newcastle University (4-10) make the trip to Rivermead Leisure Complex 24 hours later, with both matches tipping off at 5pm.
“It is a great way to start 2018 in my mind with two games because it means we can get some early competition under our belts ahead of a busy month of games and practices,” said Pena Garces.
“We play two teams that will have used the two weeks off to re-focus and re-energise so we will need to be ready for both opponents as they will be really wanting to start 2018 with a win and push themselves up the league table.”
Rockets finished last year in disappointing fashion, falling to defeat at Bradford Dragons by 82 points to 67 in their final game of 2017 but they remain only 4 points behind table toppers Team Solent Kestrels in the NBL Division One.
The Reading team will look to heap further misery on a Lancashire side who are yet to register a win all season in the league, as well as attempting to complete the double over Team Newcastle University whom they beat in a tight 72-68 game back in October.
Pena Garces made use of the time over the Christmas break to reflect on Rockets’ season thus far but is now solely focused on the year ahead.
“As a group, we are all very excited about what we could achieve in this part of the season and being out of both knockout competitions means we can solely focus on the league,” he said.
“Let’s see what we can do but we know the support at our home games is crucial and we can’t wait to see our fans on the 6th.”
Rockets head into the new year with no injury worries, with the whole squad up for selection, with the trio of Declan Soukup, Sydney Donaldson, and Alex Drincic all recovering from bouts of illness suffered before the Christmas break.
