The return of the British Basketball League’s legendary and much-loved All-Star Game is fast approaching, and three Manchester Giants players across the men’s and women’s teams have been selected for the roster.
Arriving at the CopperBox Arena in London on Sunday, 17 March, the BBL All-Star fixture is back to mirror the annual game of the same name made popular by the NBA, with the month-long fan vote for this year’s lineup opening back in January and ending on Valentine’s Day.
Fittingly, we’re absolutely in love with the 2024 roster as it features not one, not two but three players from the Manchester Giants, including husband and wife pro duo Jamell and Georgia Anderson, as well as rising US and women’s team star Myah Pace.
Massive by name, massive by nature.
⭐️ Jamell Anderson, Myah Pace and Georgia Anderson will represent the Giants in the 2024 All-Star Game!
As well as these three Manchester Giants, local player LaQuincy Rideau of Cheshire Phoenix has also made the cut. Up the North West!
The trio of Giants will compete in the men’s North team as well as the women’s squad for the inaugural year of the female All-Star event.
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Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anderson is one of the most exciting forwards in the league with the second-highest average steals and some really good free-throw stats to boot.
As well as returning to the British sporting calendar after a decade-long absence, this year also sees the first-ever Women’s All-Star Game, with both Georgia and Myah making the landmark roster.
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Although Anderson is set to captain her side while Pace and her husband opposite are set to make appearances off the bench for their teams, all three making their way onto their respective rosters in the first year of the event’s return and amidst challenging season is not to be overlooked.
You can see both lists in full here:
Three Manchester Giants players across a total of 22 top talents is not bad at all. (Credit: Supplied)
With the starters on each team being decided by the fan vote itself, it’s great to see the Andersons, Pace and plenty of other Northern talent on show as the British Basketball League continues to gain more eyes year after year.
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The Women’s game is set to tip off at 12:30pm ahead of the Men’s fixture at 15:30, with the iconic slam-dunk competition and three-point contest scheduled to feature between the two games, as well as the presentation to the inaugural entrants to the League’s new Hall of Fame.
Promising plenty of entertainment on and off the court, including a live performance from R&B/dancehall singer-songwriter, Amaria BB — who will take to the court for the Men’s halftime show — there’ll be plenty of fanfare and, hopefully, plenty buckets to go with it.
We wish all the best to our Manchester Giants and the All-Star North teams this year and if you’re interested in heading down south to see the excitement, you can still grab a ticket HERE.
Pep Guardiola in talks over first international management role
Danny Jones
Football icon and Manchester City legend Pep Guardiola is reportedly set for his first job since leaving the Etihad Stadium, as the Catalan head coach looks like he could be set to make his move into international management.
The generational manager, who has undoubtedly become one of, if not the greatest of all time, left Man City at the end of last season after a decade in East Manchester.
Stepping away from the sky blue side with 20 trophies in 10 years, he’s won pretty much everything there is to win – at least at club level, anyway.
With that in mind, multiple outlets are now claiming that Guardiola is getting ready to make his debut on the international circuit, already being heavily linked with a role as part of ‘gli Azzurri’.
EXCLUSIVE: The FIGC has met with Pep Guardiola to convince him to take over as national team head coach, according to Sky in Italy 🚨🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/qmzjunjur4
Yes, as per Sky News’ sporting arm over in Italy, Pep is now rumoured to be the next person to take the job in their national team, which would be his first proper senior position in international football.
According to Sky, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have already held meetings with the former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City boss.
It remains unclear how advanced talks and/or negotiations have progressed up to this point, but it is said that fellow footballing veteran and AC Milan legend turned FIGC technical director, Paolo Maldini, has already travelled to meet the 55-year-old.
Believed to have been joined by former teammate and right-hand man Leonardo Araújo – who previously served as director at PSG – it looks to be more a case of whether Pep wants the job rather than if Italy want him.
From announcing a documentary series covering his final season at Man City, to even launching a dedicated ‘Decade of Pep’ fashion collection, it’s fair to say that both the club and the fan base are bidding a bittersweet goodbye.
Pep has already made it clear that he can’t see himself ever managing the Spanish national team, remarking: “I am a Catalan. I don’t see myself ever managing Spain.”
Meanwhile, other names rumoured as options for the Italian manager’s job include Andrea Pirlo and a return by fellow ex-MCFC boss, Roberto Mancini. Can you see Pep pipping any of these to the post?
As for his former club and ‘second home’, Cityzens will be glad to hear that while it may be all change over at the Etihad Campus, there is plenty to be hopeful about – including some steps more in the right direction when it comes to tickets.
England international and ex-Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan dies at 75
Danny Jones
Football veteran and legend of the English game, Kevin Keegan OBE, has sadly died at the age of 75.
A former Liverpool and Newcastle player, not to mention England international, turned Manchester City manager and even Three Lions boss, his death was announced on Monday, 20 July.
The news comes following a battle with illness since the start of the year, after it was revealed that he was tragically diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer back in January.
The original ‘King Kev’ before the likes of De Bruyne, also affectionately known in the footballing world as ‘Mighty Mouse’, is said to have passed away with key members of his close family by his side.
Confirmed via a public statement issued to Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves, they wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.
“The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments. “Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.”
Put simply, he had an incredible career and leaves a lasting legacy.
It goes on to read: “The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time, and they are requesting space and privacy.”
Naturally, tributes are already flooding in online, with ex-pros, pundits and fans alike labelling him among England’s best-loved father figures and characters, with one user notably dubbing him as “one of football’s good guys.”
Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, after battling cancer.
The England, Liverpool and Newcastle United legend will be remembered as one of English football's most decorated players. pic.twitter.com/oNIPUV806n
Even at his fiery and most passionate best, he was still one of the most respected figures in the history of English football and the sporting world at large.
For instance, arguably his most iconic interview as Newcastle boss ahead of his team’s clash against Manchester United back in 1995/96 only showed how mild-mannered he often came across.
Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, former teammates and all those mourning the familiar face with a famously good head of hair.
Danny Jones -
5th March 2024 
