Basketball: Scant rest for Titans' Cameron

By PETER JESSUP

Tall Black captain Pero Cameron returns to his home-town this weekend as his Waikato Titans side aim to put their National Basketball League season back on track with victory over the North Harbour Kings.

The game marks the opening of a $500,000 refurbishment of Advocate Stadium in Whangarei, the Titans conceding home court advantage in honour of their star player. His mother, Mata, is the long-term head coach of the Whangarei Basketball Association and it was her request that led to the change of venue.

The city is hoping to revive interest in basketball after running an NBL side from 1995 to 1998.

Cameron was promised a slow return to the national league as he recuperates from a long season in England. He arrived back in the country last Thursday.

The 27-year-old flew with the Titans to Christchurch on Saturday, but did not play against the Rams because he was still recovering from jetlag.

He top-scored with 22 points against Hawkes Bay on Monday, his presence in mid-court crucial in the 91-89 win.

Cameron won four titles with London's Chester Jets, including the English league championship.

He turned in a man-of-the-match performance with 20 points in the grand final, helping the Jets to their first league trophy in an 11-point win over arch-rivals the Sheffield Sharks.

Earlier, he led the Tall Blacks to victory over Australia to qualify for the world championships, and assisted Waikato to last year's NBL title.

It has been a busy and satisfying 12 months.

"My definitions of the words 'break' and 'rest' have changed," Cameron said, acknowledging that he would have to stay fit for the national side as they look to test series away to China and home to Hungary, then a four-way tournament with Hungary, Germany and Yugoslavia in Germany as a build-up to the world championships in Indianapolis in August.

The Tall Blacks will get together about every two weeks for training, which Cameron regards as essential to melding the team.

Titans coach Jeff Green has assured his star that he will not be flogged in the NBL.

Green said he would need Cameron's presence only for the sides with size: the Rams, Hawkes Bay and Nelson.

Cameron is relatively injury-free, with just a slight neck strain after the arduous season.

"The international programme looks solid and busy," he said. "That will be great for the young guys coming through."

The Kings have a tough weekend, hosting Hawkes Bay on Saturday. Auckland go to Wellington, the Rams to Nelson and the Jets shift their game against Otago to Wanganui to mark that area's contribution to their game.