KEY POINTS:
Breakers import Derrick Alston has been around long enough to know things have a way of working themselves out.
The 210cm power forward arrived in Auckland on Tuesday on a short-term contract as cover for the injured Rick Rickert and will make his Breakers debut on the road against defending champions the Bullets in Brisbane on Sunday night.
Although his sojourn Downunder is, initially at least, scheduled to last just one month, Alston said he was hopeful something else would come up, either with the Breakers or with another club within the Australian league.
"This could be a nice place to play for a season or two, so it will be good to showcase my game," he said.
"But I just want to help the team and do well for the team."
He started his pro basketball career in 1994 for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA before making an impact in Europe, but has never played in the Southern Hemisphere.
Joining a play-off contender mid-season is also a first.
"I'm usually called in to help teams in the bottom echelon try to stay in their leagues," he said.
Alston's length of service depends on the speed of Rickert's recovery from a back injury but he wasn't fazed by the uncertainty.
"It doesn't matter if I'm here for four weeks or four months," he said. "I've learned to take it day by day. I can't control it so I get on with it and strive to do well for the team."
