Arena 'erupts' after basketball match proposal

A man who proposed to his girlfriend at a basketball match says the couple "shot memories for a lifetime".

Carlo Vidal Miranda, from Peru, popped the question to his girlfriend of two years, Dianelis Feria-Menes, from Cuba, during an interval at Sheffield Sharks' fixture against Leicester Riders on Sunday.

The 27-year-old got down on one knee while Ms Feria-Menes, 25, took part in a shoot-out challenge at the end of the third quarter.

He said he was "very, very nervous" about proposing in front of almost 1,600 people but "very, very ecstatic" after she accepted.

Mr Vidal Miranda, a business manager for a property developer, said the couple, who met in Sheffield and now live together in the city centre, went to the match because they were "big fans of everything Sheffield-related".

"We have always been connected to Sheffield in some way," he added.

Timing had been key to his decision to propose at the game.

"She's going to graduate from Sheffield Hallam University on Friday, so her parents have actually come over all the way from Cuba," he said.

"I wanted to make sure that they were able to be there. For me, it was very special for her to be completely unaware that it was something that was going to happen."

With the help of the club, Mr Vidal Miranda arranged for he and his girlfriend, a nurse, to take part in a shoot-out challenge which would give him a chance to catch her by surprise.

He admitted he was so nervous he couldn't remember her saying yes, but has since been assured that she did.

"That's what made it special, taking that leap of faith," he added.

Ms Feria-Menes said she had been "in shock" when she turned around to see her now-fiance on one knee.

"I wasn't expecting anything. I'm very, very happy. I'm still in shock," she said.

Sheffield Sharks director Yuri Matischen said the Canon Medical Arena had "erupted" when Ms Feria-Menes said yes.

"We would love to offer our congratulations," he said. "It was our first on-court engagement, which we were delighted with."

The happy couple went for pizza after the match - and have already set a date to get married on 21 December.

Ms Feria-Menes described her fiance as her best friend, adding: "Carlo means everything to me. I know he's the one."

Carlo added: "We shot memories for a lifetime".

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