Kent Brockman
Years ago
NBL announcement
BASKETBALL: Naming rights sponsor to give NBL a boost
By BOTI NAGY
08sep04
THE National Basketball League today in Sydney will make its long-awaited announcement of a naming rights sponsor with electronics giant Philips expected to help rejuvenate the ailing competition.
Hot on the heels of that announcement the NBL will proceed with its first pre-season Blitz tournament in Cairns on September 17-19 with all 11 teams competing in the shortened-games format.
The revitalised Blitz, in which teams have the opportunity to play four or five 24-minute games in three days, brings the league's combatants under one roof.
Adelaide, which plays its NBL season-opener against New Zealand Breakers in Auckland on September 29, yesterday had its full contingent at practice for the first time.
Returning 2002 championship starters Willie Farley and Paul Rees were on the hardwood with the 36ers' only bona-fide new face, wiry big-man David Cooper.
"As you'd expect, David was a bit tentative early but he's really started to kick in," Adelaide coach Phil Smyth said. "He will be a real asset for us."
Captain Brett Maher was the only on-court absentee, still recovering from a minor foot injury he received at the Athens Olympics.
"He'll probably train lightly on Thursday," Smyth said last night. "Hopefully, he'll be playing at the weekend."
The 36ers will contest a four-team tournament in New Zealand with the Breakers, Wollongong Hawks and Hunter Pirates before additional practice matches with NZ next week.
Smyth said the presence of import Farley yesterday immediately elevated the training intensity.
"Willie looked pretty sharp for a guy who travelled 16 hours and just got off a plane," Smyth said. "His passing has improved and he's more aggressive defensively."
Smyth said Jacob Holmes and Oscar Forman, coming off quality BankSA League seasons, had both stepped up.
"We got a lot out of our week in Port Lincoln," Smyth said of the training camp which culminated with a practice match on Saturday and which may now become an annual event. "Rex Airlines sponsored the week and we couldn't have done it without them. It was a terrific experience for the entire group and the people were excellent to us."
The 36ers trialled a selection of the leading available BankSA League players and competition is still fierce for the final roster spot.
Adelaide's line-up for the 2004-05 season is Maher, Farley, Holmes, Dusty Rychart, Rees, Cooper, Forman, Mark Nash and Darren Ng, one spot still up for grabs and old hand Jason Williams currently giving it a big shake.
