Basketball: Two more big signings for Breakers

By PETER JESSUP

The Breakers' credibility in the Australian National Basketball League went up another two big notches yesterday with the contracting of Australian Boomer Ben Melmeth and Tall Black Paul Henare.

Melmeth's signature in particular will raise eyebrows across the Tasman as he is a current international and is leaving Boomers' coach Brian Goorjian who also coaches 2002/03 champions Sydney Kings.

The New Zealand franchise is Melmeth's fourth club. He first played at the Hunter Valley Falcons in 1994 then went to Canberra. The 30-year-old, 2.08m forward is the first of what the Breakers hope will be four signings from Australia as they seek to bolster ranks with experience. He averaged 16 points last season and stepped that up to 21 in the finals series.

Henare, 24, a 1.83m guard for Hawkes Bay, is a dynamic game-runner who has excelled at international level since first selected in 2000.

That now gives the Breakers a starting five of internationals, with Pero Cameron, Dillon Boucher and Phill Jones already signed. The Breakers hope to secure two more players next week.