KEY POINTS:
Auckland Stars have received an NBL playoff lifeline after being reinstated for tonight's playoff against Harbour Heat at the 11th hour.
The Stars had been expelled from the playoffs on Monday and replaced by Taranaki after failing to pay the final $9,000 of their $18,000 league entry fee.
But the NBL board last night reversed its decision after the Stars threatened to lodge a high court injunction that could have seen the entire playoff programme postponed.
Earlier yesterday Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dale Stephens said there was no chance of the Stars being reinstated, describing the matter as "done and dusted". But last night he and the NBL board backed down, taking what he described as a "pragmatic" approach.
"We decided that we couldn't put the sport through any more," Stephens said. "We had no choice but to allow the Auckland Stars back into the league."
BBNZ received the outstanding payment from the Stars mid-morning yesterday but that hadn't been the reason for the reversal, Stephens said.
The NBL board's legal advice was that they could win the case but the tight timeframe meant the playoffs would almost certainly be delayed by any court action. Stephens said he believed BBNZ had "won hearts and minds" by taking a stand but ultimately took a sensible stance because of the damage a delay to the playoffs would cause the sport.
Taranaki, who were en route to Auckland when they heard the news, would be reimbursed for the costs they had incurred in preparing for the match, he said.
"They were obviously gutted. But they appreciate that our hands were tied."
Stephens said he had no regrets about attempting to expel the Stars after they missed a series of deadlines to pay the fee.
"The biggest lesson and the biggest criticism this organisation can take is that we probably tried too hard to accommodate a struggling team."
The final deadline for the missed payment expired at midday on Monday. Stars general manager Theo Tait said team owner Tab Baldwin, who is currently overseas, had sent the money to BBNZ via electronic transfer on Monday at 10.30am.
Stephenson confirmed the money arrived about 24 hours later but had no way of determining when it was sent. Tait said the Stars believed they had a strong legal case as the league's participation agreement was "riddled with flaws" and the NBL board had not followed due process in expelling the team.
Stars coach Kenny Stone said he hoped the Stars wouldn't be painted as the bad guys after resorting to legal action.
"We are pleased to be back where we should be," he said.
The team had continued to prepare as if it would be playing tonight, he said. "We thought all along that the right thing would happen so we practised [Monday night] and had video [yesterday]. I think we are ready."
Stone dodged questions about the financial state of the Stars.
"I think that's something you need to speak to Tab about. The money side is out of my control. Right now I am just happy we are playing some basketball." Having beaten the Heat in previous encounters this season, the Stars fancy their chances of booking a semifinal against Waikato Pistons in Te Awamutu on Friday night.
