Basketball: Setbacks for Breakers but good spirits

By PETER JESSUP

The Breakers are still sweating on the fitness of last season's star, Mike Chappell, who is struggling with an ankle tear in the build-up to the team's opening game against Adelaide next Wednesday night.

Chappell again sat out trainings yesterday in the hope that some rest will repair the ligament tear in his right foot, an injury that has kept him off court for most of their pre-season build-up.

He has taken little part in proceedings since he turned the ankle in the Breakers' first game at their new home in Henderson but coach Frank Arsego remains optimistic he will be okay by the big night. But swelling remains.

New import Shawn Redhage, who has been their star scorer in the pre-season, had suffered a groin strain and Dillon Boucher was whacked on a shin yesterday, but both are expected to turn out against Adelaide in the NBL season-opener.

Despite the interruptions caused by the Olympics, the late arrival of imports and then injuries, Arsego remains up-beat.

"We are behind some of the other teams who have had a core group for three or four seasons. But there are lots of positives - the fitness is OK, there's lots of enthusiasm and the depth is good so we should be able to go a long way in games."

The aim in pre-season had been to improve measurably each day and they had achieved that for all bar Wednesday of this week, but rectified that yesterday, he felt. Centre Ben Pepper was adding to the team combination in increasing ways at each training, with captain Pero Cameron the fittest he'd seen him.

Arsego accepts there will be higher expectations from the fans this season and that is matched from that within the team.

"The reality is we'll feel more relaxed about the competition this year but the opposition will feel more relaxed about playing us.

"Those aspects might balance out. But the team chemistry is good, everyone is working hard for each other and that will stand us in good stead."

Arsego is hoping the initial game crowd will be big and raucous so as to send a message to other Australian teams that they will have to deal with the team, the venue and the fans.

The side was rated as the one most likely to throw a spanner into the works for the playoff favourites this season.

Although the Centrebet agency appears to have set odds based mainly on the 2003/04 ladder and sets them second-last, the Breakers have been rated by NBL players as the possible dark horse of the competition with 22 per cent of votes, ahead of Adelaide at 21 per cent.

Centrebet's favourites to win are the Brisbane Bullets, just ahead of defending champions the Sydney Kings.

A player poll rates John Rillie (Crocs) and Brett Maher (36ers) as the competition's best shooters, Ben Castle (Bullets) and Darnell Mee (Hawks) as best defenders, - and Lanard Copeland (Tigers) as best trash-talker.

Townsville was rated the toughest venue to play at.