Towers head Trophy pool of death
Uni-ball trophy holders Manchester Giants will begin the defence of their prize next season in a pool group comprising Newcastle Eagles, Milton Keynes Lions and Division One side Sutton Pumas.
The revised 16 team format for the competition is divided into four groups of four teams apiece, with the two highest placed finishers in each progressing to the quarter final stages.
The draw has created one group of death with Budweiser Championship winners London Towers up against the team they defeated in the final at Wembley just two days ago, Thames Valley Tigers along side Edinburgh Rocks and Leicester Riders.
This season's Trophy runners-up Derby Storm head a group that includes Birmingham, Greater London Leopards, and Solent Stars.
Group D will pit hot favourites Sheffield Sharks against Chester Jets, Brighton Bears, and invited team Plymouth Raiders in Group D.
According to the Basketball League, "The draw has been seeded based on performance in the 1998/99 competition, with the four uni-ball trophy semi-finalists (Derby, Leicester, Manchester and Sheffield) as number one seed in each group, and the four quarter-finalists (Birmingham, London, Newcastle and Chester) drawn into groups behind them as second seed."
Group A Group B Group C Group D Derby
Birmingham
Greater London
SolentLeicester
London
Thames Valley
EdinburghManchester
Newcastle
Milton Keynes
SuttonSheffield
Chester
Brighton
Plymouth
Teams play each other both home and away for a total of six games per side in the group stages. The top two teams from each group then progress to the quarter finals of the competition, where group winners will be seeded apart.The knockout stages will, for the first time, be staged as one-off games at central venue events - thereby increasing accessibility for supporters, and television coverage. Sky Sports, who once again have exclusive rights to the competition, are set to transmit live games from the quarter-finals onwards.
The 1999/2000 competition will begin in November, with the final to be held in Birmingham at the NEC in March 2000.
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