2009 Arafura Games Report
Arafura Games 09 was attended by the largest contingent ever sent from Australian Defence Basketball. 11 players and two coaches and one team manager for each team. There was a Contingent Manager and a very proffesional off court team of one statician, two Sports Trainers and one Medic. Both teams had high expectations
Originally there were 7 female teams and 9 male teams entered into the tournament, though at the start of competition there was only 4 female and 8 males teams involved.
The standout team in the Men's Competition were the Cairns Marlins Basketball Team from QLD State League (ABA Australian Champions in 2008), and in both the Men and Women's Competition New Caledonia entered two very strong teams for the first time.
Both ADBA teams finished second on the ladder after all games before the finals. From there the Men played off for bronze medal due to head to head competition rules and the Women went for gold. In the end congratulations to the Women's Team for winning silver and the men finished fourth.
Sadly at the end of the tournment the following personnel have retired from Australian Team duties after many years service:
Ken "Busta" Robertson , Scott "Spermy" Northey, Ian "Axe " Wheatley and Michael "Puss / Raptor" Kearney.
A big thank you must go to FSGT Gill Rutledge who did the hard yards before the competition.
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WOFF Mick Kearney
18 May 2009
Last Modified on 10/06/2015 16:36
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