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Support Local BasketballWith much focus being placed on the Commonwealth Games (Basketball) in Traralgon this week, I would like to urge everyone to remember our local basketball teams. By David Roberts - 14th March 2006 - Back to News I would encourage the 2000 people with Commonwealth Games tickets for Basketball in Traralgon (and the many more that I know missed out) to get behind our local elite teams, the Latrobe City Pacers and Latrobe City Energy.
It is obvious that through Commonwealth Games ticket sales that there is great local support for high level elite basketball and I encourage this to continue into the 2006 Big V season which promises to be a great one for our local teams.
The Pacers have a new look team headed by Coach Dean Vickerman. Dean is an ex-NBL Player, has had a range of International coaching experience and is currently the second assistant coach for the Melbourne Tigers, who won the NBL Championship (3-0) over the Sydney Kings. Vickerman brings great experience and knowledge to Basketball in Gippsland and will be a huge asset for the Pacers.
The Club has also retained import Vashon Weaver and rumour has it will add some new profile players through Vickerman’s NBL connections before the season kicks off in a few weeks.
The Pacers first home game will be in the new Traralgon Stadium and promises to be huge when the local team meets the Melbourne Tigers. Coach Vickerman will be out to exploit his knowledge of the Tigers Big V ABA side and their new Coach Daryl McDonald (D-Mac). This will be a game not to be missed.
In addition to the Pacers, the Latrobe City Energy Men’s and Women teams will hit the floor in Traralgon ensuring that over the 16 week Big V season that almost every week there will be an elite game in the Valley (Pacers have 2 home games at Moe).
The Energy teams are set to be big improvers this year, especially the Women’s team that have secured new players including T-Birds Premier player Carmen Dean. At the recent Pre-season tournament, the Energy Women made the semi-finals by winning three out of four games and were beaten in the semi-final by a well polished Monash Uni team.
Basketball in Gippsland is bound to be exciting this year and will be all the better for the local support.
I urge you to be proud of Gippsland and the Valley and show your support by getting on board the Latrobe City Pacers and Energy Teams.
The Pacers first home game is Saturday April 1st against the Melbourne Tigers at Traralgon, while the Energy Men & Women’s teams will be at the Traralgon home court on April 8th. The men’s games tip off at 8pm while the women start at 6pm. For a full season fixture visit www.bigv.com.au
I’m excited by the season ahead and I hope to see you at a game.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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