The Dandenong Rangers are in China, taking on the national team (pictured) in two friendly matches before returning to Melbourne before the showdown against Sydney on Saturday night.By Glen Atwell
A WHIRLWIND tour of China could spoil the Dandenong Rangers’ three-game winning streak with the team facing a match against the Sydney Flames at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
But the two-game overseas trip was an offer too good to refuse, according to Dandenong coach Gary Fox.
Less than 12 hours after the Rangers finished a 70-55 destruction of the Perth Lynx on Saturday night, the team boarded a plane to play the Chinese national side in two friendly matches this week.
The Rangers return just in time to take the court in a season-defining match against the Flames.
Fox, who remained in Australia due to work commitments, said he hoped his players would not be too tired when they returned.
“I guess they can’t help but be fatigued to some extent, just how much of an effect it will have you never know,” he said.
“But we’ve done this mid-season trip before and won matches after coming back, so I’m confident it will work out,” Fox said.
The Rangers have played the most WNBL games of all teams this season – 11. Only Perth has also played that many, and is last on the ladder.
Add a hoard of injuries and a quick mid-season trip to China into the mix and it’s obvious the Rangers are doing it tough.
But Fox said the commercial opportunities generated from the trip made it impossible to turn down.
“We’ll be playing to a television audience of over 300 million,” he said.
“In terms of sponsor exposure and other opportunities, it’s more than worth it.”
The Rangers’ overseas adventure will be managed by Fox’s assistant Ed Dunstan, who is under instruction to nurse the team as much as possible.
“We’ve taken two guest players over – Carly Wilson (Perth Lynx) and Gabrielle Richards – and we’ll do our best to make sure our players are not exhausted,” Fox said.
