Alfredo Ott today vowed to break new ground in an increasingly fruitful tie-up between Worthing and Florida.

And that means holding off a challenge from Manchester Magic and helping bring play-off success to Worthing Thunder. American guard Ott has been an inspiration for (Barkers) Tarring Thunder on their way to the EBL division one regular season title and a play-off semi-final place.

The second leg of the semi takes place at Worthing Leisure Centre tomorrow (8pm) with Thunder holding a two-point lead from the first meeting and eyeing a place in the final at Birmingham's NIA.

It promises to be a night to bring back memories of the golden era of the Worthing Bears.

But Ott hopes it is not the last game of a season which started when he fled his home in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans bound for a first professional deal in England.

Ott knew a bit of what to expect as the third American to arrive in West Sussex via a tie-up on the Gulf Coast.

Tampa-based agent Dan Olson previously came up with Jamal Johnson, who helped Thunder win their first honour in the 2004 National Trophy, and big Teon Knox.

Ott, 23, said: "I heard about Worthing from my agent because he had sent players here.

"Everybody knows about London and I'd heard things about England but I didn't know where Worthing was and I didn't know what to expect.

"I've enjoyed it. It's a bit cold and you use a few different words but I'm just glad you speak English here.

"It hasn't really been a culture shock." EBL division one is the second tier of basketball in this country. It is run on a semi-professional basis and is not what kids dream of when they tread the playgrounds of the States.

But a combination of exciting imports and British talent makes for entertaining action and Thunder have thrilled their fans with a run of 14 straight wins since mid-January.

Englishmen like Steve Vear, Steve Gayle, Pat Bates and James Brame have been key to their success.

But you need your Americans to contribute to the team game. And that means using trusted sources when signing players blind. Ott and power forward Jon Woods, from Chicago, have been a success and there is tentative talk from both sides about continuing the partnership.

An ultimate goal could be to follow the path being trod by ex-Thunder skipper Gaylon Moore, who is on the way to securing a British passport and a route into mainland Europe.

Ott is listed by internet sources as already having a French passport.

But he said: "That's a mistake. All I said was I had a passport because I had been to France."

Tomorrow's game is likely to be the biggest occasion at Worthing since they overcame Teesside to reach the 2001 final. Assistant coach Alan Sweetman-Hicks expects a tense night. He said: "Manchester know they let us off the hook by squandering the 16-point lead they built up in the first quarter at their place.

"But likewise we had an eight-point lead going into the last minute and they pulled it back to two, so I'm sure they think the momentum is with them. We need to be fully focussed on this game as Manchester have more experience.

"That said, we are the champions, which gives us some experience in itself.

"If we can come out the way we did during some of our games in February and really impose ourselves on the game then we should be too strong.

"But, if we come out like we have done recently and allow Manchester to get up, then it will be a long evening with us playing catch-up yet again."