By ROY WARD
THE best teams in Australian basketball will play in south-east Melbourne from this Thursday night.
Both the National Basketball League and Women’s National Basketball League will play their preseason tournaments at Dandenong Basketball Stadium from Thursday until Sunday.
China’s development side, known as China B, will also play in the WNBL tournament.
Basketball Australia officials are touting the event as the first time the two leagues have combined their preseason tournaments at the one location.
The NBL tournament begins on Thursday night with games each night up until Saturday.
The WNBL tournament begins a night later on Friday on each night until Sunday.
Dandenong Basketball Association chief executive Graeme Allen said the tournaments would be fantastic for Dandenong and for Victorian basketball.
“It’s becoming a regular occurrence to have these major events at Dandenong Stadium,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity to see our elite basketball players on court at the same time.
“All the NBL and WNBL clubs will be playing in one place on the one night. You will have four courts going with plenty of games.”
Dandenong had originally asked WNBL clubs to come and play their preseason tournament at the stadium before last season, but a weekend when all clubs were available couldn’t be found.
This year that changed.
“We ran out of time to organise it last year, this year we raised it again and the NBL jumped at it as well,” Allan said. “We have had great support from the City of Greater Dandenong and we look forward to seeing all these games under one roof.”
Australian WNBA players such as Lauren Jackson and Jenna O’Hea are uncertain starters for the preseason tournament as they may still be playing in the US when the tournament begins but NBL clubs are expected to field full or near full sides.
Melbourne Tigers will play Cairns on Thursday at 7.30pm; Perth on Friday at 8pm, with final round matches on Saturday night decided by ladder position.
Dandenong Rangers WNBL side will play Canberra on Friday at 8pm; Adelaide on Saturday at 6pm, with ladder position deciding their final round match on Sunday afternoon.
For tickets to the preseason tournament
contact Dandenong Basketball Association on 97347192 or go to dandenongbasketball.com.aufor more information.
