For Newcastle Eagles the SLB Trophy Final on Sunday afternoon makes it thirty-three finals in 30 years, and they are looking for their 29^th National title as they go against a tough London Lions outfit. It is a remarkable achievement and legacy for the UK’s most storied top level basketball franchise.

Last year’s win in the same competition was Head Coach Marc Steutel’s first at this level and he wants to defend that title and add to the Eagles history. But he knows that it is going to be a tough test against the best side in the SLB.

That is why Tuesday night’s 82-77 win over KK Dubrava in the ENBL was important to him and the team. It broke a seven-match losing sequence and gave Newcastle momentum going into Sunday as Steutel explained.

“We wanted to win the game. This week everyone’s been talking about it being Finals week. But we had to commit to Tuesday’s game as it’s part of being in Europe. It is what it is, and it was a positive challenge to have.”

“I’m sure the guys like to play games, and we wanted to win the basketball game. To be down in a hole a couple of times but then to show a really high level of toughness and it was so pleasing to do it with our defence.”

“Our activities at that end our smarts and forcing turnovers in the second half was pleasing. Our defence has to fuel our offence and that’s what it did in the second half. But it has to be like that in every game and every time we play.”

Steutel knows that his side’s next challenge is massive, and he will be hoping to carry a lot from Tuesday night into Sunday’s game against a London side they have already lost four times to this season.

“We saw them recently and they were 26-points better than us. So, the reality is against the best team in British basketball right now is we have to be 27-points better than them. I know every game has its own story but that is our mindset.”

“We have learned. We have clear obvious ideas on who they are and how they play. People talk in sport about momentum, confidence, rhythm some of these ideas that are not tangible and you cannot sense and you can’t feel.”

“But sometimes you need that. Basketball’s a confidence sport, a massive confidence sport so I was glad we won on Tuesday. 99.9% of people believe that London have one hand maybe even both hands on the Trophy.”

“I don’t fell that way. I know it’s a monumental task and I know we’re going to have to take a lot of punches in the game. But I believe if we can chip away, be consistent and fight I genuinely believe this group can go and cause an upset.”

“It will be an upset if we pull it off. We’re the underdogs but we don’t mind that. It’s an exciting opportunity and it’s going to be an exciting place to be on Sunday.”

One-off cup games in all sports have a habit of throwing up the unexpected and upsets happen all the time. That’s what Steutel, Newcastle and the 300 or so fans that will be travelling to Birmingham will be hoping will happen.

The action at The Utilita Arena, Birmingham gets underway at 15:30pm as the SLB prepares to honour its first silverware winners of the 2025/26 season.