KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Stars have been reinstated after protesting their disqualification from the National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs.
It means Taranaki, who had replaced them and were already in Auckland to play Harbour Heat in one of the quarterfinals tomorrow, had to be withdrawn from the game.
Auckland were declared ineligible for the quarterfinals yesterday after failing to meet a deadline to complete payment of their participation fee.
That deadline was extended over last weekend, but the franchise had still not made the payment by lunchtime yesterday and was subsequently struck off from the post-season.
But discussions between lawyers representing the Stars and the NBL board today allowed Auckland back in on a technicality.
"We are very disappointed with this outcome," Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dale Stephens said tonight.
"This is not an issue that has arisen in the past couple of weeks and the Stars are now 15 weeks overdue with their final payment.
"We feel we have given them every opportunity to meet their financial responsibility to the NBL and took appropriate measures to defend the league's credibility.
"If we fought this protest in the courts, we are confident we could eventually win it but this game must take place in just 24 hours. This action could prevent that happening and, at the end of the day, the show must go on.
"We still believe we were right and at the very least, this outcome should serve as a warning that we are prepared to take extreme steps to preserve the integrity of the NBL."
The result is bad news for Taranaki, who were edged by the Stars on a countback for the sixth and final post-season spot, and were called up to replace the Stars.
The Taranaki team were already in Auckland today for their anticipated match against Harbour Heat in tomorrow night's second quarterfinal at the North Shore Events Centre, but will now hand that spot back to the Stars.
- NZPA
