Dakar look to snatch second title from Luxol

Dakar SW will be looking to claim their second domestic honour of the season at the expense of BUPA Luxol when the two big rivals in men's basketball clash in the BOV KO final this afternoon at Ta' Qali.

Dakar and Luxol met in the Super Cup final in November. On that occasion, Dakar came out on top, beating Luxol 87-71 for the first honour of the 2006/07 season.

Luxol are the holders of the KO. Last year, they beat Pembroke (now Dakar) 86-81 for their 13th success in the competition.

Today, John Tabone's men will be looking to make up for the Super Cup upset and retain the KO title for a second successive year.

Dakar go into the final enjoying a psychological edge. Besides the Super Cup, the two teams played each other on three other occasions this season with Dakar chalking up two wins.

On November 5, they played in the Enemalta Shield semi-final and Dakar emerged winners 67-58. Luxol's only victory over Dakar so far this season came in the Gatorade League when they scored an 83-76 win in December.

Joe Galea's side, however, soon regained the edge in head-to-head contests as in the corresponding second-round fixture they cruised past Tabone's team 74-60.

Both sides had an easy passage to the final. Dakar thrashed Floriana 71-50 and Luxol outclassed Qormi 86-42.

Dakar are expected to be at full strength today but Luxol will be without Alan Borg. He is ruled out by suspension after a disqualifying foul in his side's 65-61 defeat to Siggiewi in the league last week.