READING Rockets will aim to pick up a first title of the season when they face old rivals Manchester Magic in the National Trophy final at the University of East London, SportsDock Arena on Sunday (4pm).

It will be their first final since last year’s 76-58 National Cup loss to the same opponents, who have since retained that crown by beating Worthing Thunder.

Manchester are also the reigning National Trophy holders, sit top of NBL Division One and beat Reading 93-82 earlier this season.

However, Rockets’ head coach Manuel Pena Garces is looking forward to the final and believes his team’s recent form holds them in good stead – while remaining wary of the favourites.

The Spanish play-caller (pictured with D’Montre Edwards) said: “Each season we always want to challenge for silverware and reach finals so we are really pleased to be back on the main stage with a chance to win our first title of the season.

“Our team has been playing much better in recent weeks and we have been pleased with the increased level of performance through really hard work and much better discipline.

“We are defending much better and I believe in every single one of my players.

“Now is the time for them to showcase this on the big stage and I believe that if we play to our capability we can win the game but we know it’s going to be difficult.”

He continued: “Manchester is a great team. They have done so well in recent years and are definitely the top team this season so far.

“(Coach) Paul (Middleton) has done a really good job and has assembled and worked with a group of players that have gelled together really well and made them a really formidable team.

“They have a lot of talent all over the floor ranging from the point guard position with Franc (Garcia Garrido), the wings with Jack Minister and sometimes Ellis Cooper and Alvaro (Alarcon Lizaur), and inside with Lohf (Ryan Lohfink) and Lee Goldsborough. The young players they have too have made a significant contribution and the depth to their team is very special.”

“We know we are in for a tough game but that is how finals should be. We have had some great games with this team and we expect another one on Sunday. We are going to prepare and work so hard this week and we really hope we can send our fans home happy and achieve something great again for our club.”

Rockets go into Sunday’s final – where victory would secure a sixth National Trophy in Rockets’ history – with the unfortunate news Ben Allison will not be able to continue playing for the team due to on-going work commitments.

l READING Rockets warmed up for the final with an 85-55 annihilation of hosts Westminster Warriors in the league on Sunday.

Rockets made a fast start and surged into a 7-2 advantage on the back of a brace of Tony Robinson scores and a Joel Keeble treble.

However, Westminster hit back to go 15-9 in front, only for Jordan Nicholls to land the first of his trebles to level matters 19-19 at the end of the period.

The visitors continued their run by taking the second quarter 22-10, putting them 41-29 up at half time.

Edwards and Danny Carter continued to dominate play as Rockets went 57-41 up at the end of the third quarter, and despite ringing the changes in the final stanza, Reading cruised to a comfortable victory.

Top scorers for Rockets were captain Carter with 19 points and Edwards with 18.