Live: BBC Radio Newcastle commentary - BBL Trophy Final

By Matt Newsum

Eagles will compete in their fifth consecutive BBL Trophy final

Newcastle Eagles player-coach Fabulous Flournoy is man on a mission ahead of Sunday's British Basketball League Trophy Final at Guildford Heat.

The New Yorker is looking to make amends for last season's 86-79 defeat by the Surrey club in Plymouth, one of two final defeats for the Tynesiders last season.

"We want to change it around, we've been in this final five consecutive years which is a huge achievement for the club," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"This time we want to come back with the trophy and hopefully that will kick-start another great run of trophies."

The 'great run' the 35-year-old refers to includes eight trophies in five seasons, starting with 2004's BBL Trophy win and most notably a momentous 'clean sweep' in the 2005-06 season where Flournoy's side won all four trophies.

Last season saw two cup final defeats, and a poor display in the play-offs although the league title was sewn up to ensure Newcastle maintained their remarkable run of success.

And Flournoy admits his own high standards mean that even having brought home silverware he remains disappointed by their recent record.

"The hunger is always there. I want to win, I want to compete against the best and I want our team to be challenged," he said.

"From our perspective we've been having bad years, even though we won the play-offs and have been in finals.

"We've got unfinished business and that's not necessarily with Guildford, that's just by our standards, what we're trying to prove and we're trying to be the best club there is, there was and the best there ever will be."

Sunday's final takes place on Guildford's own turf, having beaten the Eagles last year to earn the right to stage the game.

Not that the location of the game concerns the Eagles coach, who has seen his team show the necessary character and strength to overcome such a psychological barrier.

"When we won the BBL Trophy we had to go to Brighton, and we won it, then we had to go to the NIA and other various places which we also won," he said.

"And when Plymouth came up to Newcastle and played us on our home court, we lost so I don't think about the court.

"They're going to have their fans there, we're going to have our fans there and it's going to be an exciting basketball game."

Former Cheshire Jets point guard Trey Moore is enjoying his first season at the Arena, having enjoyed a successful career in European and British basketball over the last decade.

And the Texan, a veteran at 33, admits the final will be a new experience, even with his calibre.

"This will be a great experience for me, it's my first BBL Trophy final," he said.

"It's become an intense rivalry over the years, as Guildford have been in a few finals and they've pushed Newcastle close over the time.

"I expect a tough, hard-fought game. I hope we win all the trophies we can. We're in a great position."

BBC Radio Newcastle have live coverage of the BBL Trophy final between Newcastle Eagles and Guildford Heat at the Guildford Spectrum from 1515 GMT on Sunday, 15 March 2009.

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