Basketball: Money no worry for Breakers

By PETER JESSUP

New Zealand's entry in the Australian basketball league won't face the financial worries the Warriors and Kingz have.

The Breakers yesterday announced major backing from retail giant Harvey Norman and others.

Stability off court and the talent they have signed suggests the team will compete in the finals in their first season.

Their playing strip was also revealed yesterday, navy blue panels on the shirt and shorts wrapped in a gold slash with a white border, running to a black base.

Black and white was for national teams, CEO Michael Redman said. And the Breakers almost have one - eight of their players are away with the Tall Blacks and last year's Boomers centre Ben Melmeth is in the squad.

The Breakers also have backing from DB Export, Canon NZ, Nissan, Coke, Kombat Clothing.

The team fly to Australia for their first hit-out this weekend in a three-way tournament with the West Sydney Razorbacks and Hunter Pirates at Coffs Harbour, before facing the champion Sydney Kings side in Sydney on Tuesday.

The Kings have remodelled, but still boast Boomers guards Jason Smith and C. J. Bruton, and Melmeth's replacement, Brett Wheeler, from finalists Perth.

The Pirates have lost Miles Pearce to the Tall Blacks' tour, but have Geordie Cullen, who was at Wellington early-season, and Kevin Brooks, who also spent time here with the Saints.

The Razorbacks include junior world champs-winning guard Steve Marcovic, and Boomers Sam Mackinnon and Simon Dwight.

Breakers assistant coach Frank Arsego conceded that the weakened Breakers would struggle in this pre-season tournament against sides with more of their starting line-up available. Scores are not important - finding out what works for them and testing their plan B is, he said.

The travelling team is: Australians Melmeth, Brad Williams and Blake Truslove, regular Breakers' back-up centre Casey Frank, development players David Hopoi, Mika Vukona and Lance Baker, and Waikato Titans draftees Prem Krishna, Nat Connell and Glen Joe.