Confident Suns set for future

Getting back into the NBL is our dream but for now we've got to become a robust team operating in the second division.Travis McIlroy There was a festival atmosphere at Kensington Stadium as the Northland Suns finally got to play in front of their home fans for the first time this season.
Around 150 people were on the bleachers to watch the Suns go down 72-87 to the Auckland Rivets. The result of the friendly game was immaterial, not for the players certainly, but because the season was celebrated for what it was - a fresh start for Northland basketball.
One of the key players behind the Suns comeback after 12 years in the wilderness was Travis McIlroy, who along with other major players like coach Mata Cameron and captain Cory Poa, was elated with how far the team has come along this season.
"Getting back into the NBL is our dream, but for now we've got to become a robust team operating in the second division - which has been restarted by Basketball New Zealand [BBNZ] for next year - and then earn our promotion," he said.
Making that statement at the beginning of the season might have seemed out of place but BBNZ restarting the second division has helped the Suns to set their goals high and give them the chance of earning promotion. The competition will be on a home and away basis - unlike this season which has seen them travel to play in Auckland in the Super City Basketball Competition every weekend. "That's going to allow us to build up a good rapport with the fans and the public, so when we get to the first division, everything will be ready for us to compete at that level," he said.
McIlroy said the players were keen to beat the travelling Rivets but there were other factors that were more important on the day.
"Everyone in the squad wanted to win, but our coach knew all the players' families were there and she wanted to get everyone court time and rotated everybody to make sure they all did," McIlroy said.
The scores were tied after the first quarter, but Auckland dominated the second and third quarter, getting out to a 20-point lead before the Suns came back - cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd - pulling the Rivets lead back to just eight points in the final quarter, to give them a chance of winning.
The challenge faltered in the final minutes but it didn't detract from the day for the team, who are already planning off-season training camps to get a good start for the second division campaign. "Next year should be a good one, we've got a few more staff coming on board. But there is also a lot of interest from players from the north, who left to continue their basketball careers elsewhere, who have been contacting us to ask if there are opportunities here," he said.
Former Breakers' development player and NBL player Warwick Siddall, who played for the Rivets on Saturday has made it clear that he will play for the Suns next year if he can.