Basketball: Waikato to replay trash-talking message

Waikato coach Jeff Green intends to broadcast the phone message left by his Saints counterpart, Mike Ogilvie-Lee, in the stadium before Saturday's national basketball league final in Hamilton.

The friendly trash-talking between coaches developed an edge when Ogilvie-Lee left a message on Green's mobile phone after Saints' semifinal win over Nelson on Friday night.

The lights in the Mystery Creek stadium will be turned down for the announcement of the Waikato team. Green said that just before the side are called he intended to broadcast Ogilvie-Lee's message.

Green denied that playing the message would be unsporting and said it was all about motivation.

"Anything to take the [Saints] mind off the job," Green said.

Waikato, who choked badly in last year's semifinal when hot favourites, are making their first appearance in the final.

Green said he doubted his side would choke now that they were in the final.

"The pressure is off us now. Our pressure was to win the semi. If we hadn't we would have been major chokers. Now it's down to one game and it [the title] is half a step away for us. It's one game."

- NZPA