London Lions claim SLB Cup over Manchester in fierce contest
London Lions secured their second piece of silverware this season with an 83–74 victory over Manchester in the SLB Cup Final at the AO Arena on Sunday, producing a dominant second-half turnaround to seize control of the contest.
Trailing 40–32 at halftime after being outworked and disrupted by Manchester’s defensive intensity, the Lions flipped the game through physicality, defensive pressure, and composure down the stretch, in a game that was marred by an altercation in the final moments.
Tensions boiled over in the closing seconds, reflecting the growing rivalry between the sides. McGusty exchanged words with the Manchester bench in response to an incident in last week’s meeting, before Max Jones intervened, sparking a brief altercation that saw both benches clear. Players from both teams were ejected with 7.8 seconds remaining.
Manchester did not return to the court for the post-game medal presentations.
Kam McGusty finished with 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists to earn MVP honours, while Joel Scott added a dominant 15 points and 12 rebounds. Chaundee Brown Jr. and Tarik Phillip each contributed 12 points, and Deane Williams chipped in 11 in a strong two-way display.
“I think that’s the best part about this team,” Scott added. “Anyone can go off at any point, and that’s why we’re so special. We trust each other.”
Head Coach Tautvydas Sabonis pointed directly to the shift in identity post-game.
“They understood that without doing what we do every day, without playing with the defence that we do, we are not a good team,” Sabonis said.
“But when we do that, we are an amazing team.”
Manchester set the tone early, overwhelming London with hustle and energy. Jordan Johnson spearheaded the charge, scoring eight quick points in the opening quarter as the hosts built a 19–11 lead. The Lions struggled to find rhythm offensively, missing opportunities at the free-throw line despite frequent trips to the stripe.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern. Manchester extended their advantage to double digits behind Johnson and PJay Smith, while London showed only flashes through Tarik Phillip and Chaundee Brown Jr. A late push, sparked by Joel Scott’s interior presence and Kameron McGusty’s shot-making, cut the deficit slightly, but the Lions still trailed by eight at the break.
The game turned decisively in the third.
London came out of halftime with renewed intensity, locking in defensively and attacking with purpose. Brown opened the scoring in a 7–3 start, before Ethan Price and Deane Williams helped bring the Lions back within striking distance. Scott then tied the game with second-chance points, capping a relentless spell on the offensive glass.
McGusty pushed London in front with an and-one finish as part of an 11–0 run that completely flipped the momentum. Although Johnson responded late in the quarter to keep Manchester within touching distance, the Lions took a 58–57 lead into the fourth.
“We knew what we needed to do from the get-go,” Scott said. “It was just doing the little things, playing with energy, and we did that. Little by little we chipped away and followed the game plan.”
The final quarter showcased London at their best.
After Manchester briefly regained the lead early in the period, the Lions responded with a barrage from beyond the arc. McGusty, Scott, and Williams all connected from three-point range as London seized control. Phillip’s defensive pressure created transition opportunities, including a crucial steal and score that stretched the lead.
McGusty delivered the decisive blows, knocking down clutch shots and attacking the rim in the closing minutes to extinguish Manchester’s resistance. Despite Johnson’s continued scoring, London’s defence held firm, with Scott providing a key late block to help seal the result.
The victory keeps London on course for a historic season as they continue their pursuit of a domestic quadruple.
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