Basketball: Breakers get home advantage for crucial games

Breakers coach Andre Lemanis gives instructions during this midweek win over the Crocs. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers will play their best-of-three ANBL semifinals - and potentially finals - series on a home-away-home basis, general manager Richard Clarke has confirmed.

With far flung teams such as Perth and Townsville among the Breakers' likely opponents, the ANBL had been considering making the series away-home-home as a cost-saving measure. However, the Breakers have resisted a plan where they would lose home advantage for the crucial series-opening matches and undertake twice the travel of their opponents. Instead, with the Breakers having all-but secured top spot with Thursday's heart-stopper win over second-placed Townsville, it is their opponents who will have to endure the extra travel.

The ANBL has confirmed the Breakers will host the first match in New Zealand and then face an opponent who has had to fly a return leg to Australia in the second match. If the series goes to a deciding third game the Breakers will face an opponent who has had to crisscross the Tasman three times.

"Home-away-home is confirmed," Clarke said. 'There was some suggestion [of change] but we certainly wouldn't have supported that as it takes away the benefit of finishing top. It was considered in terms of the cost point of view but it is not going to happen."

The Breakers' position as top qualifier could be confirmed as early as tonight when Wollongong play Townsville. If Wollongong win, the Breakers (19-5) cannot be overhauled. A Townsville victory would leave the Breakers requiring one win from their last four matches - or another Townsville loss - to confirm top spot.

"I don't think we'll get over the top about it," coach Andrej Lemanis said of the looming milestone. "It's reward for work that has been done in the past."

Both the club and players are set for a financial windfall for making the playoffs. The club must pay the league a subsidy of A$5.50 (semifinals) or A$6.50 (grand finals) on each ticket sold but keeps any profits on home playoff matches after that. Players will receive bonuses of up to 7 per cent of their contracts if the club makes the grand final series. Should they be knocked out at the semifinals stage most players will receive a 3.5 per cent bonus.

The Breakers' next match is against the Crocs in Townsville next Saturday night. They then face Sydney and Adelaide at home before finishing the regular season away at Melbourne on April 2. The opening matches of the semifinals series will be played on April 7 and 8.

•Mika Vukona has been diagnosed with a minor ankle sprain. An MRI scan has revealed a bulging disc in guard Corey Webster's back. If he is ruled out for the season he will be replaced in the squad by Leon Henry.