Manchester Basketball are in a strong position to make the Super League Basketball Cup final after the First Leg of the Semi-Final.

They beat Surrey 89ers 101-87 on the road, bringing a 14-point lead back to Manchester on Sunday for the Second Leg. Pjay Smith dominated the game from the point, going off for 26 points and 7 assists to lead the important victory.

Smith finished the game with an index rating of 30, going 10-17 from the field and grabbing 2 steals in a stat-sheeting stuffing effort. He was all over the court in Surrey, and the Niners had no answer for the American.

He wasn’t the only one to put in an impressive display. Kyle Carey had 16 points off the bench in 17 minutes of action, making the most of every minute he was out there. Carey drained four triples in the game, catching fire from beyond the arc.

Jordan Johnson and Zak Irvin contributed big points in the second unit, as Manchester won the bench battle 43-17. It was a resounding team effort on the road.

It was clear what type of game this would be from the opening tip. The first quarter was 28-26, and Manchester knew they’d have to outscore their opponents. But as the second-best scoring offence in the SLB, they were more than capable of that.

The visitors followed up with 28 points in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead. Smith got to work to score 9 points in the period, entering halftime with 14. But this is a two-legged affair, so Manchester needed to keep its foot on the gas.

They doubled their lead in the third, as Smith continued to tear the Niners defence apart with big buckets throughout. Entering the fourth, the lead was 77-58.

Surrey chipped into that lead slightly in the final period, as Tyrin Lawrence made a run, and they’re within touching distance of their opponents for the second leg. But Manchester are in control of the tie as they prepare to get it over the line in front of their home fans.

The Second Leg will be played at the National Basketball Performance Centre on Sunday, February 15, at 3:00 pm.

Help your team get over the line, and get your tickets here!