ID :
60452
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/60452
The shortlink copeid
Basketball league to include eight teams
Basketball Victoria are shaping as a possible saviour for the troubled new NBL,
considering a proposal to enter a team in the competition planned for later this
year.
Basketball Australia (BA) have declared they want an eight-team league in 2009, with
chief executive Larry Sengstock saying the search is on to add a Victorian-based
side to the seven who have already expressed interest.
All seven clubs confirmed on Wednesday they were committed to a new league starting
later this year.
Sengstock also met with Basketball Victoria in Melbourne to discuss the association
stepping into the breach to run a Melbourne-based team.
The team would flesh out a league currently lacking any representation from
Australia's major cities, joining confirmed starters Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast,
New Zealand, Wollongong, Cairns and Townsville.
While there would still be no team from Sydney and Brisbane, the new league would at
least cover a similar footprint to what had originally been slated for 2009-10.
The Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons both withdrew from the planned league at the
11th hour, leaving the competition without a Victorian representative.
Basketball Victoria chief executive Wayne Bird said discussions between his
association and BA were "preliminary" and "only at the conceptual stage".
But Bird said he believed it was essential Victoria had a presence in any national
competition and that the association had a responsibility to help the reform of
Australian basketball.
"If it can be done, it's essential because the sad thing is of the three major
cities, none are going to have representation," Bird told AAP.
"If the window of opportunity is there, as the largest basketball state in
Australia, we have to consider the opportunity."
Bird said his association would have further discussions with BA in coming days,
saying funding and time would be the most telling factors in any attempt to enter a
team.
Any decision to field a team would also have to be given the green light by
Basketball Victoria's members.
The organisation has recently benefited from $14 million in federal and Victorian
government funding to build a new stadium and headquarters for Victorian basketball
in Melbourne's east.
But their current base at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre includes a court with
capacity for more than 2,000 spectators, which has been used for previous NBL
matches.
Sengstock admitted any would-be Victorian entrant for the new league would have to
be found swiftly.
"It has to be sooner rather than later because we need to get out there with the
draws, stadium bookings, it's a very tight time frame unfortunately."
Sengstock said even if attempts to bring in a Victorian club failed, the competition
would definitely proceed in 2009-10 as a seven-team league.
A hopeful, left-field bid from New Zealand club Wellington Saints also evaporated on
Wednesday.
The club had expressed interest in being part of the competition but their approach
was declined in favour of a possible Melbourne side.
considering a proposal to enter a team in the competition planned for later this
year.
Basketball Australia (BA) have declared they want an eight-team league in 2009, with
chief executive Larry Sengstock saying the search is on to add a Victorian-based
side to the seven who have already expressed interest.
All seven clubs confirmed on Wednesday they were committed to a new league starting
later this year.
Sengstock also met with Basketball Victoria in Melbourne to discuss the association
stepping into the breach to run a Melbourne-based team.
The team would flesh out a league currently lacking any representation from
Australia's major cities, joining confirmed starters Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast,
New Zealand, Wollongong, Cairns and Townsville.
While there would still be no team from Sydney and Brisbane, the new league would at
least cover a similar footprint to what had originally been slated for 2009-10.
The Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons both withdrew from the planned league at the
11th hour, leaving the competition without a Victorian representative.
Basketball Victoria chief executive Wayne Bird said discussions between his
association and BA were "preliminary" and "only at the conceptual stage".
But Bird said he believed it was essential Victoria had a presence in any national
competition and that the association had a responsibility to help the reform of
Australian basketball.
"If it can be done, it's essential because the sad thing is of the three major
cities, none are going to have representation," Bird told AAP.
"If the window of opportunity is there, as the largest basketball state in
Australia, we have to consider the opportunity."
Bird said his association would have further discussions with BA in coming days,
saying funding and time would be the most telling factors in any attempt to enter a
team.
Any decision to field a team would also have to be given the green light by
Basketball Victoria's members.
The organisation has recently benefited from $14 million in federal and Victorian
government funding to build a new stadium and headquarters for Victorian basketball
in Melbourne's east.
But their current base at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre includes a court with
capacity for more than 2,000 spectators, which has been used for previous NBL
matches.
Sengstock admitted any would-be Victorian entrant for the new league would have to
be found swiftly.
"It has to be sooner rather than later because we need to get out there with the
draws, stadium bookings, it's a very tight time frame unfortunately."
Sengstock said even if attempts to bring in a Victorian club failed, the competition
would definitely proceed in 2009-10 as a seven-team league.
A hopeful, left-field bid from New Zealand club Wellington Saints also evaporated on
Wednesday.
The club had expressed interest in being part of the competition but their approach
was declined in favour of a possible Melbourne side.
