‘Anything can happen’ as Sheffield Sharks face Glasgow Rocks in play-offs

The 24-year-old Californian, like all his North American team-mates on the Sharks’ roster, grew up playing best-of series to decide who advances and who wins titles.

But the BBL apes other sports in this country by having two-legged quarter-finals and semi-finals decided by aggregate scores, before the play-off final scheduled as a one-off game in London on Sunday, May 15.

Ratinho was part of the Sharks team beaten by two points by Newcastle Eagles in last year’s quarter-final.

They went into the game as the fifth seed, whereas this time they face Glasgow Rocks as the second seed, having finished best of the rest behind runaway champions Leicester Riders.

Ratinho – named to the BBL team of the week after the final weekend of the regular season – said: “It’s definitely different, we have to go into the first game and not take our foot off the pedal whether we’re down or up.

“The first game affects the second game so much so we’ve got to go into that first game with everything we’ve got and play for the full 40 minutes.

“Last year was my first experience of it and it was tough because we ended up losing by two points on aggregate – so it definitely affects things down the stretch of a game.

“Basketball is a game of runs so anything can happen.”

Sharks finished the regular season strongly, yet their only defeat over the last four games was by a single points to Glasgow – a team they beat three times and lost to twice this season.

Nevertheless, Sharks go into Friday’s first leg in Glasgow, in good shape, with Ratinho leading the way with minutes played.

“We’re in good form, obviously losing Antwain Johnson (to injury) was tough but I feel we’ve bounced back and everyone is contributing just that little bit more and we’ve done well as a team,” he said.

“We’ve been short on bodies so me having to play a little bit more minutes was expected - obviously not 45 – but I know what I can do, coach (Atiba Lyons) trusts me out there.

“I know what everyone likes to do, how to play off individual players and so I think going into the play-offs we can make a real run because of how well we’re playing as a team right now.”

Sheffield host the second leg at Ponds Forge on Sunday (4.00).