Basketball: Asian expansion vital for ANBL

Sydney coach Brian Goorjian believes expanding into Asia can secure the financial future of the league ahead of last night's historic clash with Perth in Singapore.

Wildcats chief executive Andrew Vlahov has been the driving force behind the decision to test the waters in Asia and discover if Australian teams will be embraced on the continent.

It comes after a decade of ANBL mediocrity, punctuated by a lack of sponsorship dollars, teams facing administration and blue-chip Australian talent heading overseas due to a lack of financial opportunities.

The ANBL salary cap stands at just A$736,000 ($807,992) - the type of money leading players can earn alone in Europe.

Boomers Chris Anstey, David Andersen and Paul Rogers are among a host of top-shelf talent to leave Australian shores to chase the European cash on offer.

But Vlahov and Goorjian believe last night's game represented the first step towards generating enough money to lure Australian players home and secure better imports, thereby raising the standard of the league.

While the Cats usually make a minimal return from home games, it is understood the club - which has poured in A$200,000 to stage the Singapore match - will make a profit.

Harvey Norman was on board as a naming rights sponsor and the game was beamed to 57 million subscribers throughout Asia on the ESPNStar Network.

Other ANBL clubs and Asian basketball federations have already held discussions about getting involved in the initiative.

Talks are underway to play a game in Singapore for another three years, with the hope of one day establishing a Uefa Champions League-style competition involving Australian and Asian teams.

The concept has drawn plenty of scepticism within basketball circles, with many questioning the realistic prospect of the Australian league being embraced abroad.