The National Basketball League will hold a pre-season tournament, the Top End Challenge, featuring all eight NBL teams in Darwin from 3 – 5 September in the lead-up to the 2009/10 season, Basketball Australia has announced. 

The event, which is being supported by the Northern Territory government and will be the biggest basketball event in Darwin’s history, will provide teams with the chance to have an invaluable hit-out prior to the tip-off of the NBL regular season on September 24.

“I am delighted that the National Basketball League has selected Darwin to host its pre-season Top End Challenge featuring all eight NBL teams from 3-5 September,” NT Sports Minister Karl Hampton said.

“This Government has a proud record of hosting premier sporting events – particularly those sports that have produced home grown stars such as Cairns Taipans star Gary Boodnikoff.

“We are very proud to host this year’s Challenge and showcase our international sporting facilities against the backdrop of Darwin’s thriving sporting, business and cultural opportunities.”

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said the event was a unique one on the NBL calendar.

“This event is a further sign that Basketball is back and stronger than ever,” said Sengstock, “ The Top End Challenge brings together the whole NBL family in a pre-season carnival that is a full dress rehearsal for the season proper and provides a real insight into how each team is shaping up for the 2009/10 Season. This is an important statement about the strength and resilience of Basketball in Australia and we are proud to showcase the best of Australian men’s basketball in the Top End.”

“Basketball Australia has been very strong in its resolve to reconnect the elite end of our sports to the grass roots community and to that end the Teams will be conducting a wide variety of community engagement programs such as basketball clinics, school visits and hospital visits which will reinforce that Basketball is truly Everyone’s Game.  We are very grateful for the support of the Northern Territory government and Basketball NT who have allowed us to bring this fantastic event to Darwin.”

NT Basketball President Pam Adam was extremely supportive of the event.

“It gives our committed basketball community the chance to watch, learn and interact with their NBL heroes. Our young basketballers are very excited by the opportunity to attend the NBL coaching clinics,” said Adam.

The tournament will be held at the Marrara Indoor Stadium, which has hosted a number of Perth Wildcats’ home games in recent seasons.  Each team will have a minimum of three full games, playing in an elimination format on Marrara’s two courts.  Tip-off times will be staggered to start at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm with the grand final scheduled for Saturday, 5 September.

The gathering of the NBL community in Darwin will also facilitate a number of important governance meetings, including a NBL/Club CEO’s Meeting and a meeting of the NBL Commission, which governs the NBL and answers to the BA Board, consisting of Dianne Smith-Gander and Bruce Spangler (BA Board), CEO Larry Sengstock and Commissioners Ian Smythe (CEO Townsville Crocodiles), Wayne Morris (CEO Wollongong Hawks), Paul Blackwell (Owner New Zealand Breakers) and Andrew Vlahov (Independent). 

Tickets for the Top End Challenge will go on sale in August.

To find out more on the NBL, visit www.nbl.com.au.

Article by Basketball Australia