Horvath's Hand Up

Century City Wellington Saints import Nick Horvath is a surprise entry in the NZ Tall Black trials, beginning Monday in Auckland.
New Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic has ordered the three regional trials to assess the talent available before selecting his roster for the FIBA Oceania showdown with Australia in August for a spot at next year's Beijing Olympics.
Horvath won't be in action in Auckland - he has registered for the Palmerston North trial on April 15 - but has applied for NZ citizenship and wants to be considered for national team selection.
As a naturalised player, the American centre would have to compete with incumbent Casey Frank for the one spot available under FIBA regulations.
Read More...

Back to top

Lolly Scramble

It’s so predictable, you can almost set your watch by it … the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL is a month old and the import merry-go-round has begun.
This annual phenomenon actually started two weeks ago when Century City Wellington Saints dispatched American point guard JD Collins. But it switched into top gear this week with three restricted players sent packing … and the return of a couple of familiar faces.
Saints were in the act again, as they tend to be every season, when they re-instated injured centre Nick Horvath, released his temporary replacement Andrew Rice and then brought in big American Bakari Hendrix (2.07m) to fill Collins’ spot.
Includes Dominion Finance NBL Guide (Round Five)
Read More ...

Back to top

Boucher's A Family Guy

Steve Deane, NZ Herald
It’s pretty easy to spot Dillon Boucher’s Manukau home from the street. The basketball hoop and half court out front is a bit of a giveaway.
New Zealand’s most decorated domestic basketballer - he has a record eight NZNBL titles to his name - is also a pretty recognisable character these days. Sparked by the exploits of the Tall Blacks at the beginning of the millennium and fanned by the creation of the Breakers, the profile of the game in this country has come on leaps and dunks.
Boucher and his muddy blond flowing locks have been very much the face of game’s popularity rise. It’s a rare day when he isn’t approached by a member of the public for a bit of a chat.
Read More ...

Back to top

Care To Dance ...

Would you vote for this guy?
Former Tall Black and injured Century City Wellington Saints guard Brendon Pongia has turned in his sneakers for dancing shoes to take part in Dancing With The Stars, starting next Tuesday, 8.30pm on TV ONE.
Pongia has adopted Cure Kids and needs YOUR votes to stay in the competition and raise money for the charity.
To vote for Pongia and partner Hayley, simply call 0900 89 813 or text Brendon 8981.

Back to top

Rice Added To Mix

Hamish Bidwell, Hawke’s Bay Today
Given his relationship with Adrian Majstrovich, Andrew Rice’s decision to sign with the Hawks is a little eyebrow-raising.
Majstrovich, the 2003 Dominion Finance NBL MVP, walked out on the last year of his contract with the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks amid, what might best be described, as some acrimony.
There was plenty of he said, she said stuff, with the upshot being that both parties felt hugely let down by the other.
Now, with injury problems having curtailed Shane Nicely’s season, Rice has stepped into the breach as the Hawks’ second import.
Read More ...

Back to top

Breakers Win With Draw

The Harvey Norman NZ Breakers are delighted with their draw for the next Philips Championship season starting in September.
The calendar for 2007/2008 has the Breakers playing all their NBL home games on Thursday nights at the North Shore Events Centre, starting with a home match against the Cairns Taipans on September 20.

Read More ...

Back to top

Level Two FIBA Scorebench & Statistician Course

May 11-12
QE2 Stadium, Christchurch
Instructors: Judy Smith & Naomi Markham, FIBA Oceania
FREE
The courses are for experienced scorebench personnel who are currently at WNBL/CBL/NBL level or aspiring to those levels. This course will provide a recognized higher level of qualification.
Read More ...

Back to top

Referee & Evaluator Workshop

June 22-24
Christchurch
Canterbury Basketball Officials Association, in conjunction with Basketball New Zealand, has arranged an exciting weekend of referee and evaluator education.
Read More ...

Back to top

Results

Women's Basketball League
Tuesday, April 3
Hamilton
Waikato 78 (Leanne Walker 23, Joanna Kailahi 19, Latasha Lenden 13, Arielle Parai 12) CCNZ 64 (Donna Fermanis 17, Arden Rarere 13, Cody Hippolite 11, Mieke Elkington 10)
Quarter 21-10
Halftime 46-32 (25-22)
Threequarter 60-51 (14-19)
Fulltime 78-64 (18-13)

Back to top