The McDonald Meteors & Global Product Search Meteorettes will have an increased opportunity to begin their title aspirations on a positive note, with both teams playing six home games to start the 2012 Queensland Basketball League season.

 

 

Both Mackay State League sides officially open their 2012 QBL accounts at the Crater at Candlestick Park against Cairns on Saturday, May 12.

 

Following the clash with Cairns in round one, both teams will then face Toowoomba in round two, before entering a mouth-watering match-up with arch rivals Rockhampton in Round 3.

 

Mackay Basketball General Manager Joel Khalu said with six straight home games to start the season, both sides could lay a positive platform for the season ahead.

 

"You don't usually get to play six home games in a row to start the season but that's the way the draw has been scheduled by Basketball Queensland this season," Khalu said.

 

"It really does present our club with a tremendous opportunity to start the season on the right foot and if both teams can secure wins early on, we'll be heading into the middle of the season with plenty of confidence."

 

"On the flip side, with so many home games at the start of the year this means we will be travelling more towards the end of the season which always presents its challenges."

 

"Those tough road games are something we have to deal with and when the time comes we'll be preparing appropriately for each of those games."

 

With the withdrawal of the Caboolture Suns from the QBL in 2012, Mackay Basketball fans will now get to see eight QBL home games at the Crater this season.  Mackay Basketball will be adding in an extra game to the schedule however, which will be the clubs annual inter-squad games on Saturday, April 28.  In both of these inter-squad contests, McDonalds Meteors & Global Product Search Meteorettes squads will be split into two teams each and players will face-off against each other.

 

"Those two inter-squad games on April 28 will be exciting to watch," Khalu added.

 

"It gives all of the players in each group a true opportunity to show what they can do prior to the QBL season tip-off and with many playing positions up for grabs there is no doubt those matches will be extremely competitive."