BASKETBALL ROUND-UP:NATIONAL CUP champions UCD Marian have missed out on a place in the Men's Superleague play-offs after suffering defeat to 11890 Killester on the final weekend of the regular season.

Marian caused a huge upset in January by beating Killester to claim this season’s National Cup but lightning was not to strike twice as Mark Keenan’s side ran out 85-78 winners.

Instead, it is Belfast Star who edge past UCD into third, a fantastic turnaround for the Northern side after starting the season with no wins after the first four games.

“I don’t think many people gave us any chance of reaching the play-off’s when we started the season with no wins from the first four games,” said Belfast Star coach Danny Fulton.

“It was looking bleak with the delay of our American Clayton Longmire coming into the club but all the players deserve massive credit for managing to turn our season around.”

In the other quarter-final, DCU Saints will host Bord Gais Neptune, while UL Eagles can look forward to a home semi-final after claiming the Southern Conference in the final round of the regular season. Northern Conference winners 11890 Killester lie in wait in the other semi-final.

Eagles finally secured the Southern Conference after a comfortable 105-71 win away to Ulster Elks, a result that came as a great relief to their Irish international star Scott Kinevane.

“It’s a great boost to get the regular season finally sorted after slipping up in recent weeks,” said Kinevane. “We haven’t forgotten our league final defeat to Killester last season and we are determined to make up for that.”

The Women’s Superleague play -offs will see UL at home to Black Forge Oblate Dynamos in the semi-final, while DCU Mercy travel to Team Montenotte Hotel Cork.