With one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory, the Surrey 89ers have secured a place in a second successive SLB cup semi-final.

What more is there to be said about this current Surrey 89ers team? A group that truly never gives up. Where they may at times lack in quality, they are never found wanting for heart, resilience, team spirit, and a never-say-die attitude.

For the travelling Niners fans at Leicester on Friday, it would have been understandable to think this was a wasted journey in the opening period. Surrey were buoyed by the return of Michael Graham from injury, but even his presence was unable to stem the tide of the Riders’ offence.

Shot after shot dropped in the bucket from all over the place. Niners, by contrast, seemed unable to gain any offensive fluidity, indeed only Ronny Polite troubled the scorers for a large portion of the first quarter.

As the first half progressed, the Riders pushed out to a 24-point lead.  The Niners had finally started to get going on offence the game became a more competitive affair, the lead gradually being chipped away at.

Niners finally started to find Isiah Small, Tyrin Lawrence and Kino Lilly, and they began to convert the opportunities, and although the lead was still 17 points at the half, there was a real sense of momentum changing.

57-40 to the Riders at Half Time.

Still plenty for coach Gardner and his team to do, and whatever was said in the locker room at halftime may well have been of Churchillian quality.

What happened in the second half almost felt surreal. A 62-point second-half performance from the visitors left Rob Paternostro and his team in shock. The Surrey offence came out in full flow, Lilly hitting his now customary three pointers, Tyrin Lawrence seems a guarantee from 15 feet, Small and Graham patrolling the boards at both ends, Polite conducting the orchestra.

The lead continually being whittled away, and then, midway through the 4th quarter, it happened: Surrey took the lead.

Once in front, the Niners never looked back, a dagger corner three from Small, complimented by two tough mid-range shots from Lawrence and Lilly. With the Riders struggling to close a now double-figure league, despite two huge Don Carey Jr. three pointers and a Niners turnover briefly allowing the lead to be down to four points.

Several Polite trips to the charity stripe pushed the lead out again and on to what looked like a comfortable final score, 102-94 to the Niners.

It is time to believe

Surrey fans are in dreamland, scarcely able to believe what they have just witnessed. Another semi-final appearance booked, with a two legged semi final awaiting, against the winners of Manchester Basketball and the Bristol Flyers.

What more is there to say about this Niners team, particularly since the turn of the year? Five wins from six games played in all competitions. A road trip defeat to Cheshire Phoenix was the only blemish.

Lloyd Gardner would seem a shoo-in for coach of the month; he and his coaching staff must take huge credit. To begin with, the recruitment of the team has been superb, a real cohesion all season long and with the addition of Tyrin Lawrence, they have the tools on both ends to hurt any team.

Perhaps more than anything, the team spirit and will to win in this group is their biggest weapon.

There are obviously key and standout players in the group, but nobody stands out as a superstar; everybody knows their role and will fulfil it for the betterment of the group. This team is a definition of “the whole is better than the sum of its parts”.

What next for Surrey?

So what now? Where can this team go? Well, in the short term, it’s back to league business and a trip back to Leicester this coming Friday. Coach Rob will undoubtedly have his team firing for revenge. Momentum is huge in sport, and for Surrey it’s important to keep this run going.

That semi-final will now be looming in the distance, and the chance to return to the cup final, and who knows, a re-run of last year versus Sheffield Sharks.

One thing is for certain: at the moment, Surrey could be the most watchable team in the league. I sit here as a very, very proud Surrey 89ers supporter, and I, for one, cannot wait to see where this team can continue to go!!