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Derby Storm set aside their poor league form and became the fourth team to book a place in the last eight of the uni-ball trophy, advancing courtsey of a 106-90 win over Birmingham Bullets at the Thunderdome.
The Storm got off to a flyer posting a 14-2 run to take an early 19-8 lead and then early in the second recording a 10-2 burst to make the game safe at 53-31.
Storm's Barry Bowman had 32 points while Michael New and Bullets' Brant Bailey had 31 apiece.
Bullets gave a debut to new signing Antonio Garcia against the club he quit last week, the Panamanian hitting 19.
The result also confirmed Thames Valley's quarter-final place.
Meanwhile Storm coach Kevin Wall has admitted his frustration at losing his star centre.
"The Garcia thing has been devastating, just at a time when we thought the team was coming together really well but the players have continued to show a good approach," Wall told teh club's website.
"We had been there before, of course, playing short-handed when we were waiting for Garcia to arrive, and now we are back in the same position."
However Wall remains optimistic over his side's long-term prospects.
"I look around the league and I see teams being beaten by 25-30 some nights and I take heart from the fact that that isn't happening to us. Through all of our problems, we're still competitive.
"It's a long season and, if all works out with the new centre we hope to be bringing in very soon, we still expect to at least make the play-offs."
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