KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Breakers received a boost to their prospects of remaining unbeaten in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) today after the captain of their next opponents was stood down after being charged with drink-driving.
Forward Martin Cattalini will not arrive with the Cairns Taipans squad in Auckland tomorrow after the club imposed a one-game suspension on the two-time Olympian.
Cattalini appeared in court this week after failing a breath test when he was stopped by Cairns police early last Saturday.
One of three players who promotes a local safe driving campaign, Cattalini had been out after the Taipans lost 77-101 to the Melbourne Tigers last Friday night, the eve of his 35th birthday.
The club released a statement saying Cattalini had been suspended for one game, ruling him out of tomorrow night's match against the table-topping Breakers here at North Shore Events Centre.
"I wish to make a public apology to the community, our sponsors, members, my club and fellow players for my behaviour at the weekend," Cattalini said in the statement.
A three-time ANBL championship winner, Cattalini has averaged 20.3 point per game and 6.3 rebounds since he joined the north Queensland club in 2006.
The Breakers go into tomorrow's game on a three-match winning streak.
- NZPA
