Wyndham basketball fans will get the chance to see the stars of the National Basketball League close up in their own backyard.
Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets will take to the court in an NBL Blitz pre-season game on September 10 from 2pm.
The Blitz is an annual warm-up competition for NBL clubs where they take the game to regional centres.
This year, the Blitz will be held at Traralgon, with eight games in September 7-9.
Once the Traralgon leg is complete, the teams will hit the road, with four games taking place concurrently at Wantirna South, Mill Park, Kilsyth and Werribee.
Brisbane Bullets assistant coach C.J. Bruton, a six-time NBL championship winner, knows the importance of taking the game to the suburbs and country towns.
“The ideal pre-season game is playing games in areas that don’t have NBL teams,” he said.
“To work with and show how committed we are with the game of basketball on and off the floor all around the country.”
Scoochie Smith, the Cairns Taipans newest import, will experience the Queensland derby for the first time.
The 22-year-old, who played Summer League for the Boston Celtics, is linking with his team for the first time.
“We’re really looking forward to getting out there and hitting the court before the NBL season officially starts,” Smith said.
“The Bullets will be our biggest rivals this year and we can’t wait to get an early run against them at Eagle Stadium.”
When Eagle Stadium, the home of the Werribee Devils and epicentre of Wyndham basketball, was being re-developed, it came with a promise of attracting big time exhibition games.
Last year, the Women’s National Basketball League took centre stage, with Bendigo Spirit and Dandenong Rangers playing a pre-season game.
Now the dream of an NBL game will become a reality when the Taipans and Bullets take to the court.
It will be a landmark day for basketball in this town and for Eagle stadium.
“The Werribee Basketball Association is really pleased that the NBL has chosen to bring a national level game to Werribee,” WBA business manager Andrew Summerville said.
“Events of this magnitude don’t happen often, so this is a great opportunity for everyone in the area to see Australia’s best basketball players in person,” Summerville said. “The NBL is going from strength to strength and we are really looking forward to playing a small part in this great league.
“Tickets are selling fast so we encourage all our members and the local community to get out and support this game.”
Tickets are available at www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=307397.
