Bristol Flyers centre Malcolm Delpeche has declared the team is looking to create some club history ahead of a huge double-header against fellow league pacesetters London Lions.
The Flyers will head to the Copper Box Arena in the capital on Friday night for another top-of-the-table clash in the British Basketball League (BBL), and attempt to oust the Lions out of the number one spot.
They will then head back down the M4 to host the same opponents at SGS College Arena in Stoke Gifford on Monday night for the semi-final of the BBL Cup.
The knockout game is an opportunity for Bristol to make only its second ever major final since joining the BBL in 2014. The closest the club has previously come to winning silverware was finishing runners-up in the BBL Cup in the 2019/20, losing in the final to Worcester Wolves.
The Flyers, who are 9-4 on the season, will be hoping they can repeat the heroics they showed in a memorable 75-71 home victory last month against the Lions, who hold a 9-2 record.
The league leaders have been competing well in European competition this year, and have a stacked roster of former NBA talent. Among them are ex-Houston Rockets, LA Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Sam Dekker and centre Kosta Koufos, who was previously on the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Bristol’s stand-in captain Delpeche, who led the team out in last Friday's 78-60 victory over Surrey Scorchers while injured point guard Michael Miller nurses a minor ankle sprain, said the team could draw upon their previous triumph over London, ahead of their latest match-ups.
“They're number one for a reason, we’re number two for a reason - we’re both really skilled teams. It’s also important to recognise we have beaten this team before, they are a beatable team, so we’ve just got to make sure we take care of business on our part," he said.
“Coach will do his due diligence, as will we as players, as we prepare for this match-up. It’s an exciting position to be in, and obviously looking to create some Bristol Flyers history and get some wins in this upcoming double header.”
Delpeche, who returned last year for his second spell with the Flyers after spending time with German side WWU Baskets Munster, led by example in what eventually turned into a blowout win over bottom of the table Surrey.
The big grabbed a double-double, 15 points and 12 rebounds, with 10 of those boards off the offensive glass. Delpeche told BristolLive after the game he enjoyed the chance to step up, both as a player and as a leader.
“I like actions. The best way I express my leadership is through the way I play," he added. "Obviously, being a returner, I know what Coach Kapoulas expects from us, so its being that second hand, making sure other guys are locking in and engaged while we’re playing. That’s one of the things I try to do, not even just in a captain role but just in general.”
On a cold night in Bristol it took a half for things to heat up on the court, with both sides struggling to find an offensive rhythm in the early goings.
The game sparked into life in the second half, both on the court and in the stands. Scorchers forward Ryan Martin put his fingers to lips after he made two free throws in a ‘shush’ gesture to a typically vociferous Flyers crowd, as they tried to put him off by raising the decibels in the gym.
Needless to say, Martin was booed and ‘shushed’ with every possession the rest of the way. After the buzzer, Delpeche said the theatrics had “fired up” the Flyers players, as well as their supporters.
“We love a little rivalry," he said. "The cheekiness in that stuff is what makes for the whole experience as a fan, and we love that too, obviously in the realm of respect between one another. But we don’t shy away from that, in fact we’re probably instigating just as much as any other team in the BBL. We love that sort of energy.”
A 14-point run the fourth quarter helped propel the Flyers to victory, with Delpeche praising the team’s ability to close out the game and get back to winning ways after a tight loss against Sheffield Sharks, and his twin brother Marcus, in their previous match.
When asked if he had felt as though he had a personal point to prove after his brother took the bragging rights last time out, Delpeche was full of praise for his sibling. The duo previously played together for the Flyers after they joined the club in 2018.
“First and foremost it is just a great honour to share the court with him, whether it be on the same team or on opposing teams. Obviously you have to tip your hat. Sheffield scored something like 60 points in our paint and that's something we had to clean up in the lead up to the Surrey game.
“I think we did a way, way better job, even though we weren't perfect in that last game. As great as it was to win, I think there’s a lot of takeaways, especially as we approach the London Lions games. I don't think we can play against them the way we did against Surrey.”
Delpeche’s commanding influence against the Scorchers was also noted post-game by Flyers Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas.
“It was just great to see him return to form. In the last game against Sheffield he got into foul trouble, he wasn’t able to do what he usually does for us. It was great to see him be an anchor for us on both ends of the court.”
Kapoulas said he was “hopeful” Court General Miller would be available to be thrown back in against the Lions, but his ankle would need to be assed “day by day” this week.
Coach K added that his team were looking forward to taking on a London team he said had been “built to win everything this year”.
“They have been doing really well in Europe recently, so we know it’s going to be a tough challenge ahead, but we also look forward to it. To play against those types of players, and compete with them - let’s see what happens. It's 80 minutes of basketball.
“I think [having the cup semi-final on Monday] is good for both teams, as we both get Saturday and Sunday to rest and prepare for it. What a great night, a Monday night, playing for a position in a cup final.”
