Talisman Moore urges Eagles squad to stick together

May 1 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE Eagles talisman Trey Moore is desperate for the final-four weekend not to be the swan-song for the talented roster assembled by Fab Flournoy.

Moore, named the BBL’s Player of the Year for the second time in his career earlier this week, is out of contract at the end of the season along with the rest of the squad that has scooped the BBL league title and the trophy.

But the 33-year-old is keen to stay at the Arena next season – and wants the rest of his Eagles ‘family’ to sign on for another season and challenge for a clean sweep of silverware.

Certainly the club are keen to retain all of the players who have made up the all-conquering Eagles side, but there is bound to be interest in the likes of this season’s rookie picks Tafari Toney and Reggie Jackson, who have impressed in their first years as professionals.

Still, Moore hopes the bond between the players, and the possibility of forming one of the greatest teams in BBL history, will persuade them to stay on.

The all-action guard, who was signed from the Cheshire Jets in the summer, has been a key part of the success of the team this season.

“It’s worked out really good. My team-mates are wonderful people: I love them to death. I love coming to work every day,” he said.

“We’re like family – we’re close on and off the court. It feels like we’ve known each other 12 years.

“I’m really excited about what we’ve done up to this point – hopefully we can sign off with the play-off win now.

“If we stay together, we can maybe even achieve better than we have so far.

“Maybe we could be the greatest team in the BBL – it could be that exciting.”

The Eagles will open this weekend’s play-off action with a semi-final against Plymouth Raiders, who shocked Guildford Heat to make it to Birmingham.

With three wins and one defeat, Flournoy’s men would appear to have the edge over the Raiders and Moore believes the team have earned the right to be confident going into the final weekend of the season.

“We played 40 games together – we know what we’re up against,” he said.

“We know it’s one game and we know what we have to do.

“We won’t be over-confident but we’ll be confident – we won the league, so we’re entitled to walk in there like that.

“I believe in myself that we will win the play-offs.”