Sullivan Phillips suffered at the hands of last-minute team changes during the Birmingham Bullets opening matches in the British Basketball League.

Bermudian Phillips, who signed for the team after leaving his US college over the summer, was part of the squad who went down 84-75 to the London Towers on Saturday and 72-64 to the Chester Jets on Sunday.

Steve Bucknall led the Bullets with 15 points at the Jets' Northgate Arena but the former England star's dramatic late addition to the roster brought its own problems, coach Tony Garbelotto felt.

"Steve has taken us out of synch, out of playing for each other," he said. "We got him into one practice on the Saturday but he could not be expected to learn everything in such a short time. I am a systematic coach and have a meticulous way of playing, that means the players have to be well drilled in our sets and stuff.

"The person it affected most was Sullivan Phillips. He scored four points last night and three on Saturday.

"That is a big, big worry and something we are going to have to address."

Garbelotto's team are back in European action today when they play Mons in the FIBA Champions Cup in Belgium. Last week they came back empty-handed from Portugal after surrendering the lead late on to Oliveirense.

"I know they will be the hardest team in the group to beat. I thought Oliveirense was going to be the toughest game, but this is going to be by far the hardest game and I really think we are up against everything you could imagine," said the coach. "It will be the hardest home court advantage and the hardest physical team.

"They play a little bit like a BBL team at times. They have an unbelievable point guard and they have a great American inside player. I would say we are up against it and if we can come out with a result, it will be a fantastic achievement."

Mons won their first game in Group A last week, defeating Dijon 79-78 in overtime, while Bullets narrowly lost 68-63 in Portugal.

A first round National Cup tie at Manchester Magic follows for the Bullets on Saturday before the team then travel to Leicester to take on the Riders on Sunday.