Basketball: Ronaldson wanting Breakers momentum

Tony Ronaldson (R) is set to make his 650th ANBL appearance. Photo / Getty Images

A win to build some momentum for the New Zealand Breakers will mean more to Tony Ronaldson than reaching another personal milestone in the Australian National Basketball League.

The Breakers host the Cairns Taipans tomorrow night, with Ronaldson set to make a record-extending 650th league appearance in a career that began in 1990.

The number wasn't something the 37-year-old former Australian international had been aware off until he was told this week.

"I had no idea and I guess that indicates that it's not really a focus of mine," he said.

"Like I've always said with these milestones, they're great, but for me it's more about what we're doing as a group and hopefully winning the championship."

A two-time title winner who is in his third season with the Breakers, Ronaldson did know he was just shy of becoming only the fifth player to rack up 10,000 ANBL points.

There had been some banter with his team-mates about it before the last-up win away to Townsville last Friday.

"I was telling all the guys they'd better get me the ball, and I shot it a lot and it didn't go in," said Ronaldson, whose seven points on the night took him to within 15 of five figures.

"So I'm not going with that theory any more. I'm just going to go out there and see what happens."

The 85-73 victory over the Crocodiles was the Breakers' first in Australia in six attempts this season and Ronaldson said it had given the team a boost.

It was, he said, "a huge win for us".

"That's been a move in the right direction as far as trying to get some momentum," he said.

"It was great to see different guys step up and play some good minutes."

However, with a 6-6 win-loss record that leaves them fifth in the eight-team league, the Breakers now needed to kick on and produce some consistency.

"For us now, it's about building that momentum and winning week-in week-out, rather than just having a couple of wins and then a bad patch," Ronaldson said.

The Breakers, who welcome back star shooting guard Kirk Penney after nine matches out with a back injury, are tied 1-1 with Cairns in their season series.

They completed a clinical 95-75 home victory over the Taipans in the opening round, but struggled to break the shackles during a 77-64 away defeat last week.

"We probably lacked a lot of confidence in Cairns, because we had taken a few hits on the road," Ronaldson said.

"This week, we're getting Kirk back - not that we expect Kirk to make all the difference but he's a huge part of what we do - and we're at home."

The match at the North Shore Events Centre is also a chance for the home crowd to celebrate another player milestone, after Paul Henare notched up his 200th game for the Breakers in Townsville.

Henare is the only survivor from the Breakers' original squad of 2003 and has made by far the most appearances for the club.

- NZPA