ESSEX Leopards will look to collect their fourth piece of silverware in 13 months when they face Tees Valley Mohawks in the National Trophy Final today.
Having won the treble last season, the Big Cats will travel to Braunstone Leisure Centre, Leicester, hoping to add the one trophy that eluded them last season.
The two sides met in the opening game of the season, with the Mohawks winning 83-81 after a controversial final few seconds in which player-coach Robert Youngblood's game-tying three-pointer was ruled as a two.
The VCars.co.uk League Division One meeting between the teams in January ended with Leopards gaining revenge as 26 points from Greg Hernandez led the Big Cats to a 96-88 home win.
Mohawks lost both their games at the weekend, including a three-point loss against champions-elect Reading Rockets and are now down to fifth with a 10-7 record, one place ahead of Leopards, having played one game more.
Leopards captain Taner Adu also won the treble with Manchester Magic in 2009, but missed out on the Trophy and is keen to collect the only piece of silverware that has eluded him.
"Hopefully, we can win the Trophy, because that's something neither the Leopards nor I have won before and we also want to win the play-offs.
"Both of those targets are achievable, because everyone is hitting form at the right time just about now.
"I've really enjoyed being here and want to taste success this season."
The Big Cats will not have much rest after the final, as on Sunday they face Medway Park Crusaders at Crystal Palace (tip-off 1.15pm).
Leopards head into the final on the back of a weekend, in which they split their two games, Youngblood being forced to sit out the action with tonsillitis.
The Big Cats had an early chance to get used to the court at Leicester as they faced the Warriors, but after a poor second half they went down 101-92.
The following day a big crowd at Southend saw Leopards win a thriller 68-65 against Bristol Academy Flyers.
Leopards led for 34 of the 40 minutes, but were never able to pull away and the game went down to the final seconds.
Carl Josey – who led the Big Cats with 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals – made it a three-point game off a Hernandez assist with 51 seconds remaining before Enrique Garcia set up a thrilling finish with a dunk from an inbounds play.
Adu finished with 15 points, five boards and three assists on the court where he had previously starred with Essex Pirates, while Cummings had 11 points, four assists and as many rebounds.
