Over 50 teams went into the drum for the senior cup competitions with defending Men’s National Cup champions C&S UCC Demons drawing UL Eagles in the first round. Premier League newcomers Eanna will face GCD Swords Thunder.
In the Women’s National Cup, holders Team Montenotte Hotel avoided Round One and will meet the winners of Portlaoise Panthers versus Singleton SuperValu Brunell in the quarter finals. The format of the competition reverts to single-leg knock out for the 2015/2016 season.
Portlaoise Panthers’ promotion to the Women’s League means they can’t defend their Senior Women’s National Cup trophy while 2015 finalists Oblate Dynamos travel to IT Carlow in Round One.
The President’s National Cup has thrown up a novel pairing as the first and second teams of St. Vincent’s must play each other for a place in the quarter-finals. Holders C&S Blue Demons meet Queens Basketball in Round One.
All 38 National League teams gathered at the National Basketball Arena for the Cup draw and the National League season launch.
“The draw today for the Hula Hoops National Cups signals to everybody that the season is underway and the excitement is building ,” says Basketball Ireland Secretary General Bernard O’Byrne. “I think everyone is really looking forward to getting the action underway on October 3rd.”
“It’s a positive time for us. We’ve expanded to 10 teams in the Men’s Premier League and 10 teams in the Men’s Division One and the women’s game is going from strength to strength.”
Hula Hoops Brand Manager, Niamh O’Dea, says: “We are delighted to announce the new sponsorship of Basketball Ireland’s Hula Hoops National Cup 2016.”
Basketball is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports in Ireland and Hula Hoops are the country’s favourite take home snack, which make this team a winning combination.
Together Hula Hoops and Basketball Ireland hope to promote fun and fitness for all ages because Fun Never Grows Up!”
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup Draw 2015/2016
Round 1: Singleton’s Supervalu Brunell v Portlaoise Panthers. Quarter Final: Team Montenotte Hotel v Winner Game 1; Courtyard Liffey Celtics v Meteors BC; Maxol WIT Wildcats v UL Huskies; Pyrobel Killester v DCU Mercy.
Hula Hoops Men’s National Cup Draw 2015/2016
Round 1 (2 Legs): UL Eagles v C&S UCC Demons; SSE Airtricity v Templeogue; GCD Swords Thunder v Eanna BC; Belfast Star v Pyrobel Killester.
Hula Hoops Senior Men’s National Cup Draw 2015/2016
Round 1: Team Kilkenny v JM&L Auctioneers Titans. Round 2: Fr Mathews v KUBS; Neptune BC v Tolka Rovers; UCD Marian v Dublin Lions; Maree BC v Kestrels; Keane’s Supervalu Kilorgan v Winner Round 1 Game; C&S Blue Demons v Queen’s Basketball; Pyrobel Killester v IT Carlow; St Vincents BC 1 v St Vincents BC 2.