Steve Parillon and Andrew Alleyne are uniting for the common cause of play-off success.

But that will not stop the Genesis Brighton Bears stars enjoying constant Caribbean banter between games.

Parillon, from the British Virgin Islands, and Alleyne, from Barbados, can help Bears grab a first win of the season over any of the current top three when Sheffield Sharks visit the Brighton Centre tonight (7pm).

But you can guarantee talk before and after the game will centre on their own island rivalry.

The two have become good friends.

They were room mates on the recent trip to Scotland, when their animated debates over hot topics like tourism, economy, basketball and rum kept everyone entertained.

They could be in opposition when the Caricom Championship is staged in Jamaica this summer.

But Alleyne said: "It's fun. Everybody wants their island to be the best."

Parillon reckons he can argue a good case. He said: "We're the best because we spend the US dollar and that's higher than the Barbados dollar.

"I could go to Barbados with my US paycheck and pay Drew.

"When it comes to tourism, our island is better than Barbados.

"Barbados is four times bigger. They probably have more exports from their island. But the Caribbean is really known as paradise and my island is more of a paradise island than Barbados."

"But as I say, man," interjected Alleyne. "Everybody's got their own opinion. I would say my island is paradise."

Then there is fitness (both men claim to be the fittest in the team). Or the stats sheet. "We argue over who will get more rebounds," Parillon said.

"But they give Drew more rebounds at the Brighton Centre because he's 'Drew Drew Drew Alleyne'," he added, mimicking the fans' chant in honour of the big No. 13.

"There you go, we could be at this all year," added Alleyne with a laugh. "But when all is said and done the Caribbean is basically the same.

"The only real difference is the accents. That's how you get identified in the Caribbean."

And by who lifts the Caricom trophy. Alleyne has twice been champion as tournament MVP but Parillon expects to challenge him.

He said: "If we get all our players from abroad we will be good.

"If Barbados get their full team they will be good. But the Caricom is like anywhere. You could have the best team but if you don't come out to play you're going to lose. The US Virgin Islands have more players abroad. If they get all those players they will be the strongest team."

As for the BBL play-offs, again Alleyne is the more guarded. He has reached the play-offs in each of his five previous seasons but has reservations over the current campaign.

He said: "We can make the play-offs but to win them we've got to change the way we play. If we start playing for one another, playing more team basketball, we can win the play-offs, that's my honest opinion."

Parillon's loyalty to his homeland is matched only by his faith in Bears' ability to make a surprise play-off run.

It was a belief he was still expressing deep into the night after last week's heartbreaking defeat at Scottish Rocks.

As the players whiled away the hours until a 4am breakfast call followed by the early flight out of Prestwick, Parillon was keeping the faith.

And events at Milton Keynes, where his game-saving three-pointer revived Bears' flagging hopes, were hardly likely to change his mind.

He said: "I feel something big is going to happen. We've been through it all this season and it has to be for a reason.

"Nothing scares us. No team in this league is that dominant that they can't lose to a lower seed. I've made the playoffs every year, everywhere I've played, and I'll be back in the final this year."