Basketball: Title win just reward for straight shooters

The Breakers celebrate after winning game two of the NBL Grand Final series, clinching the title. Photo / Getty Images

Club impressive on and off court, valuing loyalty and character.

The Breakers reinforced their reputation as the premier club side in New Zealand sport, yesterday winning a fourth Australian NBL title in the past five seasons.

A last-second shot from Nigerian international Ekene Ibekwe gave the Breakers a dramatic victory at a sold-out North Shore Events Centre, sweeping the Cairns Taipans 2-0 in the three-game grand final series.

The Breakers bounced back from a disappointing year to add another championship to the hat-trick of trophies they won between 2011 and 2013, once again leading the way for Kiwi teams competing in transtasman competitions.

The title provided a fitting reward for an organisation equally impressive on and off the court, showing the value of loyalty, developing local talent and backing players for their character as much as their ability.

Under the stewardship of Paul and Liz Blackwell, owners of both the Breakers and Albany's Pak'nSave, chief executive Richard Clarke and now coach Dean Vickerman, the club has transformed from also-rans stuck at the foot of the standings into the fourth team in Australian NBL history to claim four titles.

The fourth of those titles was particularly poignant as the club lost board member and local businessman Brian Pankhurst in December.

"From the board standpoint, they want to have a team that challenges for a championship every year," Vickerman said. "We had a board member pass away last year and I'm sure he's going to be smiling down on us seeing that championship [last night]."