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Years ago
NBL Blitz will return to Cairns
SYDNEY (NBL) - The National Basketball League today announced that the official pre-season tournament of the Philips Championship, the NBL Blitz, would return to Cairns from August 26-28.
In 2005, the NBL re-introduced the Blitz for the first time since 2000 with the Adelaide 36ers defeating the Sydney Kings in the Grand Final. NBL Commissioner Rick Burton said that the success of the 2004 tournament in Cairns played a large part in the decision to award this year's Blitz to the home of the Taipans.
"The Blitz will go back to Cairns and we expect it will be bigger and better than ever," said Burton. "Everyone who attended last season's Blitz was unanimous in their praise for the event. We're sure the Taipans will build on the success of last season's ABC Learning Centres Blitz to make 2005 our best-ever pre-season tournament."
Cairns Taipans Chief Executive Officer Juanita O'Brien said that the tournament would once again provide a valuable boost to both her team and the city of Cairns.
"The McDonalds HOTFM Cairns Taipans are thrilled to have successfully bid to host the Blitz for a second consecutive year," said O'Brien. "It's a strong vote of confidence in the Taipans as an organisation and the city of Cairns as a venue for a major national sporting events."
"The 2004/05 Philips Championship season was one of the closest ever and the Blitz promises to provide fans with a tantalising glimpse of what is in store for fans this season. The event is also a unique opportunity for fans to see every team in the one location and the basketball is guaranteed to be fast-paced and exciting due to the lightning championship format of the tournament."
The 2005 Blitz will again be held at the Bendigo Bank Basketball Complex (289 Aumuller St, Manunda, Cairns). Blitz matches are shortened to two 12 minute halves with a running clock for all but the last two minutes of each game.
