FAB Flournoy admits his side’s rivalry with Glasgow Rocks “brings the best and worst out of both of us,” but the Newcastle Eagles boss will be hoping it is the former that is on display in tonight’s BBL Cup quarter-final.

The Eagles v Rocks rivalry is the biggest in British basketball with sparks flying on the court and sometimes off it and is usually, when the fixture list comes out before the season starts, the first date that fans of both clubs look out for.

After all as former Rocks captain Rob Yanders once said towards the backend of the 2009-10 season, “this derby is the event of the season”.

Flournoy regards the fixture in high esteem as well and pinpoints the rivalry having its roots back to early on in his coaching career as the two geared up to see who would be the top dogs of the British game with the reign of the likes of the long-since departed Birmingham Bullets, Manchester Giants and London Towers came to an end.

Eagles of course won that challenge and although they have been the ones to beat over the past half dozen years, the Rocks have been constantly sniping at their heels in various bids to snatch their crown.

And Flournoy concedes the rivalry has been beneficial to both clubs – particularly to the Eagles. He said: “With this being a derby game I guess we both bring out the best and worst of each other. I know we have a closer fixture this season with Durham but the history we have with the Rocks makes this a special occasion.

“In all honesty, myself and (Rocks coach) Sterling Davis both get along well but I’m sure that as coaches we’ll be both be looking to get one up on each other in this game.

“This is always a great occasion. You could be either top or bottom of the league but when this fixture comes around, you’re on a different level of intensity and expectation which creates an atmosphere that can’t be described.