Basketball: Breakers see positives in taking a year off

The South Dragons have withdrawn from the revamped ANBL competition. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers think there could be some advantages if the Australian basketball league is forced to take a year off.

The possibility of short siesta has increased with the withdrawal of the South Dragons from next year's revamped competition. The reigning champions say they want to be involved, but they won't be ready until 2010.

The Melbourne Tigers have also withdrawn from the upcoming season, with chief executive Seamus McPeake saying the club felt the current Basketball Australia (BA) model for the proposed revamped competition was "clearly unsustainable".

The Tigers' withdrawal now leaves any revamped competition without any teams in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

Breakers General Manager Richard Clarke says while planning is still aimed at getting the league started later this year, a year off would have advantages. He says when football's A-League took a year off they found the 6-12 months were very helpful in cementing a base in the community.

Clarke says if there is a 12 month break, the Breakers will still have all their community projects in place. He says they will also try to retain as much of their playing roster as possible.

Today is the deadline for franchises to submit their licence applications.

- NEWSTALK ZB