Carmarthen Kings Triumph Over Llanelli Steelers in SWBA Cup Derby Thriller

Pictured: top row left to right: Andrei Remec,Terence Villamora, Junior Manhede, Tal Remec, George Spencer, Giacomo Moretti, Zack Daniel, bottom row: Aldreich Carbonel, Jerom Kaitharam, Jonty Toland, Harvey Carmody, Kwaku Asibey-Berko, Mckenzie Callard

The iconic Carmarthenshire basketball rivalry was reignited on Friday 24th October at UWTSD Sports Centre as Carmarthen Kings held off Llanelli Steelers 64–54 in an intense SWBA Cup Round of 16 clash. With both clubs representing the two largest towns in the county, the fixture brought excitement, pride, and top-tier competition back to the local sporting scene.

Local Derby Drama

From the opening tip, Kings built a commanding 18-point lead (28–10), but Llanelli Steelers – led by former Welsh U16 Vice-Captain Maelien Halton-Davies – stormed back, dominating the glass and making it a true contest. Halton-Davies finished with 14 rebounds, including 8 offensive, as the Steelers clawed their way back with relentless pressure and effort.

Stats Tell the Story

In a real battle of attrition, Llanelli pulled down an exceptional 31 offensive rebounds (Kings: 12), attempted 62 two-point shots (Kings: 45), and worked hard for every point. Kings’ depth and early advantage were put to the test as the defensive intensity of the Steelers forced turnovers and long stretches without scoring.

Experience Wins the Day

Key scores from Jonty Toland off the bench kept the Kings afloat, before player-coach George Spencer (17 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl) produced in the clutch to seal the home win. Fraser Cressall stood out for Llanelli, recording 16 points (5/9 inside, 2/5 from three) in a losing effort.

What’s Next?

The Kings now advance to play Caerphilly Cobras in the quarterfinals, taking confidence from a hard-fought victory but knowing the SWBA Cup standard is at an all-time high. As basketball continues to grow in both major Carmarthenshire towns, fans can look forward to more high-level local derbies and a new generation of talent representing the county.

Final Score: Carmarthen Kings 64 – 54 Llanelli Steelers
Quarters: 1st 28–10, 2nd 13–14, 3rd 10–7, 4th 13–23