ANOTHER final, another showdown with Reading Rockets.

Manchester Magic last night earned the chance of revenge against their big rivals and National Cup final conquerors by beating London Leopards in the semi-final of the National Trophy at the Amaechi Centre.

Magic missed out when the first silverware of the season was handed out last month, but they are hungry get get hold of the second – the Trophy – in Derby next month.

They won their chance by seeing off the Leopards with a display that didn’t entirely please coach Jeff Jones.

He had told the fans – who turned out in numbers to cheer their team on – they could expect a close, exciting game.

They got that, but it was closer than Jones felt it should have been.

After working themselves into a commanding lead, Magic took their foot off the gas in the final quarter as Leopards mounted a resurgence.

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“We got 19 up and thought it was over,” said Jones. “A win is a win and we played our best basketball – team basketball – in the third quarter and there was some good stuff. Adam Slater did a great job when he came in.

“But we slacked off and will need to be a lot better than that when we play Reading.”

Captain Stefan Gill led the scoring with a game-high 32 points, with fellow guards Brandon Kimbrough (22) and Taner Adu (14) providing the bulk of the rest.

That was a point not lost on Jones, who wants his big men to ease the burden on the backcourt trio.

“We are relying on the guards too much,” he said. “I would like to establish more of a post presence and not rely on perimeter shooting so much.”

Despite his gripes, Jones is pleased to be in another final – and to get another shot at Reading, who Magic host in the league as well next weekend.

“I think we will come out fired up against Rockets next week,” he said. “Hopefully we will put a dent in their confidence before the final.

“It’s nice to be in another final and it is a trophy we haven’t won, so that would be good.”

Leopards had edged the first quarter, but Magic took control in the second and third and went into the last 15 points ahead.

Leopards clawed their way back into the game, outscoring Magic in the fourth though the result was never really in doubt.

The champions had kept the pursuit of league leaders Reading alive on Saturday night with a road win at Tees Valley.

Magic again built up a strong lead by the start of the fourth quarter, to allow Jones to use his bench for the last period. Adu top-scored with 25 points.

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