Basketball: Imports add to the action

By PETER JESSUP

Imports and the import transfer rule surround national league action as the Hawks lose Australian Pero Vasiljevic, released to trial in Italy, Canterbury must decide whether to keep two Americans, and others have a quick-fix option if they punt one.

The struggling Rams welcomed John Whorton back from Germany with a walk-up start and he responded with a top-score 24 points as Canterbury took their second win of the season, 75-67 over Nelson.

The Rams now have to decide what to do with Mike Pegues. They can keep both Americans but that will cost and induce salary cap inspection. Pegues, who has averaged 27 points, can go straight to another team and play next weekend provided he is signed by Wednesday.

If not, he must undergo the standard three-week step-down for all players shifting teams.

The Hawks did not stop Vasiljevic's departure and have lined up Greg Clausen from Marquette University in Milwaukee. The 2.1m, 130kg forward has spent time on the NBA development league.

The Americans gave it to the struggling North Harbour team yesterday, import Link Abrams with 29 points and relocated residents Mike Foster, 23, and Willie Banks, 19, leading Taranaki to a 98-95 win.

Veteran Brendon Cathie-Pongia lifted for 26 points but forward John Smith again struggled and shot 19.

Yesterday's game was a repeat of Saturday night, when the Airs' American trio tested Auckland, the difference being that the Stars had more to call on from the bench.

They step into second place on the national league table with the 106-94 win.

The Stars have won seven, lost two and sit on the same points as leaders Waikato - the Titans' seven wins from seven put them ahead on points differential.

Consistency in performance has been the winner and again it was Canadian-born, Kiwi-eligible Aaron Olsen, 30, import Casey Frank, 21, and Tall Black triallist Lindsay Tait, 20, who led the way.

Abrams scored 30 points, Banks 24, Foster 11.

Auckland led all the way, 64-48 at the break, the game turning sloppy in the final two quarters as Auckland played as if they knew they were the better side and Taranaki where desperate to keep in touch.

"They took it to us and we didn't respond," said Stars coach Kenny Stone. "We can't do that against the stronger teams.

"We gave up 94 points and that's unacceptable. I've told the guys I'm disappointed, but I guess we can take away the points."

The Giants were without centre Ed Book but managed one-from-two on the road. Phill Jones was the stalwart with 34 points as they beat Otago 96-54 in Dunedin on Friday, and 21 points when they lost 67-75 to Canterbury on Saturday.

League-leading points-scorer Issiah Epps was closed down on Friday, bagging just 11 as Hayden Allen top-scored with 15. On Saturday, they couldn't do the same to Whorton but Rams captain David Langrell gave Jones a hard time and the Giants had no alternatives.

Kiwi-born, Australian-raised and restricted Adrian Majstrovich top-scored for the Hawks with 25 as they beat Palmerston Jets 99-84. With Vasiljevic scoring 22 and Tall Blacks Paul Henare and Paora Wintana making 20 apiece, the quartet shot all bar 22 of the Hawks' total.

Stacey Lambert top-scored for the Jets with 19 and Kaine Hokianga made 18.

The big interest in the league this weekend is whether much-improved Wellington can take it to Waikato in their away-then-home repeat encounter, at the Wellington Events Centre on Thursday and the Te Awamutu Events Centre on Sunday in the first encounter to be shown live on television this season, on TV One on Sunday afternoon.

Tall Black captain Pero Cameron is definitely out.

Otago come north to play Auckland on Friday and Harbour on Saturday.