2011 NZ BREAKERS VISIT
The Tauranga Basketball were once again treated to a visit from the NZ Breaker ANBL Franchise on the 16th, 17th, 18th of September. As part of there pre-season road tour they arrived they came into town to play fellow ANBL front runners the Wollongong Hawks. This years visit was a little different than the last however, as they arrived as reigning ANBL Champions and with brand new naming right sponsors Sky City on board.
A full roster of players made the trip down to Tauranga, however the road trip was not all about the pre-season game against the Hawks. The Breakers players ran coaching clinics on the Friday for local school children and participated in some community events in an effort to promote the sport of basketball.
It all started on at TECT Arena Baypark Friday morning with around 70 primary school children taking part in a clinic run by Breakers community coaches and players. In the afternoon it was Intermediate and Secondary School athletes turn in a clinic with more players and Breakers coaching staff. That night the TCBA primary schools leagues finished with a bang as groups of the Breakers players turned up during the night with the ANBL Championship trophy in hand to mingle, do autograph signings and present medals at prizegiving. By the looks of the night the parents were probably more excited than the kids about all of this.
Game day started with a breakfast for around 40 guests with the Breakers and Hawks players at Hotel Armitage , where they got to listen to Breakers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis speak, along with local boy Mika Vukona. That night the a near full house of 2800 spectators turned out to watch the Sky City NZ Breakers and the Wollongong NRE Hawks Christian the regions brand new TECT Arena Baypark in a thrilling ANBL pre-season match up. After a exciting final few minutes it was the Breakers who came away with the win 75 - 74 to make it two from two in the preseason. For a full report and images from the game see the NZ Breakers Website or click here.
The visit was capped of on Sunday with Breakers head Coach Andrej Lemanis as his assistant Judd Flavell staff sticking around to run a community coaches clinic at the QEYC.
Tauranga City Basketball would like to thank the Sky City NZ Breakers and the Wollongong NRE Hawks, along with event sponsors CNS Clinic, 89.4 ZM, Bartercard, Tauranga City Council, Apparel Master, Bay City DJ and India Today restaurant.
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NZ BREAKERS VISIT 2010
On Thursday 9th September Tauranga City Basketball bought the Burger King New Zealand Breakers to town for a day of awesome basketball activities at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Youth Center.
The day started when over 100 primary school students were treated to a clinic with the Breakers players. This was followed by an by Inivtation only Secondary School Clinic for a group of talented Secondary School basketballers. The regions coaches were then treated to a master class in coaching workshop with the NZ Breakers Coaching staff, Judd Flavell and Dave MacKay.
A full day of activities was topped off by the higlight of the visit, The CNS Clinic Invitational, An exhibition game with The NZ Breakers vs Bay Of Plenty All Stars selection. A sold out stadium was treated to some of the highest quality basketball the city has seen. The Breakers team which included star players CJ Bruton, Corey Webster, Paul Henare and a number of young talented breakers and current Junior Tall Blacks gave the crowd a glipse of why it will be one of the favourites in this year Australian NBL competition defeating our Bay of Plenty All Stars.
The following morning a large number of early birds got to join Breaker star C.J Bruton for breakfast at Daniels in the Park. Here they got to the chance to listen and talk to C.J about his stellar Basketball career from The NCAA to the NBA, then to the Australian NBL and to his current position with the Burger King NZ Breakers.
Tauranga City Basketball would like to thanks the Burger King New Zealand Breakers for there visit. They would alos like to recgnise all the sponsors and supporters that made it such a great experience. CNS Clinic, Classic Hits 95FM.