Basketball: Our fans were the difference, says Leicester Riders coach
Leicester Riders head coach Rob Paternostro praised the team's fans after their nail-biting two-leg win to reach the BBL Trophy final.
The John Sandford Centre was a sell-out and they had to turn away more than 100 fans on Saturday night.
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Leicester Riders v Worcester Wolves
Paternostro said: "The team was magnificent, but our fans were the difference.
"We had great support on Friday night in Worcester and we were very solid and able to build that nine-point lead, which proved crucial.
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"The atmosphere at the John Sandford was simply electric, and there was no chance of tiredness because there was so much energy in the building. In the end, the fans just carried us through."
However, Paternostro has made no secret of the fact he does not favour the two-legged ties and felt that was a factor on the way the game in Leicester played out.
He said: "They influence the way teams approach the game. You try and treat each game as one you want to win, but inevitably everyone starts calculating how much in front you are, or not, and it becomes a distraction.
"Having said that, we are becoming pretty decent at winning these types of ties, so maybe I need a rethink.
The Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders progress to the final at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, on Saturday, where they will play Sheffield Sharks. The match will be live on Sky Sports.
Riders have a block allocation of tickets for the final.
They are available at their office, on Rutland Street, they can be reserved by phone on 0116 2558635, or they can be purchased online at the address below.
Tickets are available at £25 and £20.
Riders will also have buses leaving at 7.30am on Saturday and returning straight after the game.
www.leicesterriders.co.uk.
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