Sutton-based basketballer Chi Lewis-Parry's dream of playing in the English Basketball League play-off final was dashed on Saturday.

Despite going into the weekend's semi-final second-round clash with Worthing with a nine-point cushion after the first leg, Lewis-Parry's Paws London Capitals side crashed out after going down 108-84 to the Sussex outfit - a 15-point aggregate defeat.

But the 6ft 7in star was philosophical about the defeat, having once come agonisingly close to giving up the sport he loved completely.

Lewis-Parry explains: "I got a high school scholarship to play in Arkansas, USA, and that's where I really got into my basketball. But a knee injury ended my dreams.

"I got tendonitis due to general wear and tear on the knee - playing pretty much every day since I was 11 years old caught up with me.

"And to be honest, that took my love away for the game and I didn't play for four years."

The 23-year-old former London Towers player says he is unable to put his finger why he returned - but is glad he did.

"Basketball was over as far as I was concerned - I didn't even want to watch it. But I woke up one day and said to myself my knee feels good and I want to play again'.

"Since then, I have had the bug again and, when I joined the Capitals, it was like I was a youngster again."

Lewis-Parry took up basketball after watching the NBA in the mid-1990s and, although the sport's popularity in the UK has dwindled in recent years, he wants to play an leading role in its revival.

"I got into basketball in 1993, when the likes of Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were at the top of their game. But the coverage now is nothing to what it was like back then.

"The problem in this country is there is no real funding for the game.

"It's not just the money, people have not taken to the sport but I'm sure that will come.

"Maybe not in my heyday, but, one day, and I hope I can help build its profile."

Lewis-Parry is now preparing for a summer move to the professional game with British Basketball League side Guildford Heat, but the door supervisor says his transfer will not take any focus away from his London Capitals duties.

"It's a massive step up but I'm ready and looking forward to it," he said.

"I spoke to the coach at Guildford and he wants me to work with them.

"But nothing will get in the way of my focus on the rest of the season with the Capitals."