Round 6 marks the halfway point of the Sal's NBL regular season and across the League there are eight huge games on the menu. Everything you need to know, including ticket information and where you can watch each game is here.
Mike Pero Nelson Giants vs Property Brokers Manawatu Jets
When: Thursday June 3
Where: Trafalgar Centre
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 3
Tickets: click HERE
Mike Fitchett (Giants)
The Jets team are much more talented than their record suggests and will be looking to get their season back on track when they come to Nelson. Knight and Bezzant are one of the toughest scoring backlcourts in the league, so we will have to be on our A game to match it with them.
Tim McTamney (Jets)
We begin our journey to Nelson with a resolve to produce an improved performance tomorrow night against the Giants. We are expecting a tough matchup in front of what is bound to be a parochial hometown crowd. In the meantime we shall enjoy our ferry journey, and take this great opportunity to soak up some fantastic NZ scenery.
Steelformers Taranaki Airs vs Sky Tower Auckland Huskies
When: Friday June 4
Where: TSB Stadium
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport Next, Stuff.co.nz, NZNBL Website, Tribe Sports App
Tickets: click HERE
Trent Adam (Airs)
The Huskies coming to town after a away/home double header last week. We had an amazing turnout for our Coach McKean tribute game last Saturday. Although we didn’t get the result we were after, once again our tremendous fans turned out in great voice. With a mother week of training under our belt we are looking to continue to tidy up our ball security, and improve our defensive rebound rate. Huskies will present a strong challenge for us with Johnson’s size surrounded by shooting, and Aaron Young doing a great job with his young team.
Aaron Young (Huskies)
Big trip for us this weekend as we head down to Taranaki and Hawks Bay for an all-important road trip. We understand the importance of every game, seeing the middle of the pack get tighter and tighter. Everyone is gunning for that final four spot, making every game crucial as we approach the halfway point of the season. Taranaki presents a great challenge under Trent, who have talent and experience in every position. We have to match their energy and focus on what we can control. Hawks Bay on Sunday will be a great matchup. I’m sure they will have the gym packed and ready for the battle.
SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks vs Wellington Saints
When: Friday June 4
Where: ILT Stadium Southland
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 3
Tickets: click HERE
Rob Beveridge (Sharks)
With having 7 of our first 9 games on the road, it is going to be great to get back on our home court against the best team in the league, The Wellington Saints. We played the Saints in the early rounds and they certainly stamped their authority on the game with a comprehensive and humbling 30 point win. The Saints are extremely well coached by Zico Coronel and being led extremely well by Dion Prewster and are playing very good basketball and am sure that having a 6-0 record they will be feeling confident coming in to play us this week. However, over the past few weeks we have grown as a group and feel that we will be much better prepared to put on a better performance than last time. If we are able to handle their defensive pressure, physicality and slow down their scoring it will put us in a good position to cause an upset win at home.
Zico Coronel (Saints)
Every practice and game we strive to play the next possession better than we ever have collectively played a possession previously. This weekend’s double header to Invercargill and Christchurch to face the Sharks and Rams represents a great opportunity for us to continue with this quest. They are both well coached teams, feature many strong players, and are sure to pose us some problems to solve, and in doing so enhance our learning. In turn we intend to present a few quandaries of our own. We look forward to tip off on Friday.
EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls vs Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks
When: Friday June 4
Where: Franklin Pool & Leisure Arena
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Jamie Reddish (Bulls)
We are excited to host Hawke's Bay at The Stockyard. It will be a challenging game for us with some injuries and illnesses but it also provides a fantastic opportunity for other players who have been training with us since January to step up. Both teams are hungry for wins after losing three straight!
Kaine Hokianga (Hawks)
Franklin's fast pace and willingness to get up shots from the 3pt line early are exciting challenges to try to overcome in the first of this weekend's double header. While it has been tough going lately, we have no choice but to work hard during training this week and put ourselves in a position to get back to winning ways. Depleted or not, Franklin will put up a fight. We will need to play much better basketball than we have done recently in order to get back to where we feel we should be.
Go Media Otago Nuggets vs SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks
When: Saturday June 5
Where: Edgar Centre
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Brent Matehaere (Nuggets)
The southernmost basketball rivalry in the world gets back underway this Saturday night in Dunedin's More FM arena. The Go Media Nuggets are really excited by the challenge of playing one of the top teams (ILT Southland Sharks) in the league. With both teams sitting in the top 4 currently it is basketball at it's NBL best. The Sharks have one of the best defenses in the country and an offensive until stacked with power and punch from the perimeter. While Sharks are a protected species in the wild we'll hope to leave them floundering at the bottom of the mine!
Rob Beveridge (Sharks)
On Saturday, we will back up to play Otago Nuggets after playing The Wellington Saints the night before. Otago have been playing some great basketball, particularly with Timmins playing dominant basketball this season. Their imports McKay and Moss have settled in very well into the team and with Coach Brent Matehaere leading the team they will be very well prepared for us. We know that with having a tough battle the night before, we will be physically tired but we are hoping that we will be able to match their intensity and continue to play good team basketball.
Wheeler Motor Comapny Canterbury Rams vs Wellington Saints
When: Saturday June 5
Where: Cowles Stadium
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport Select
Tickets: click HERE
Mick Downer (Rams)
The Rams are looking forward to tonight’s battle against the league leading Saints. After a month’s play this season, changing rosters throughout the league (additions and injuries), it’s the Saints team that has steadily kept their core group, and with that has brought consistency in their performance. They are the current benchmark in the league in both directions of game so we look forward to testing our much improved play against the league’s best. Week by week it’s important that we keep building and growing as a team. The rebounding contest, guarding the 3pt line and pick and roll situations as a collective are keys in this game. With the Huntley-Gordon trophy on the line and a rich history of many hard fought battles we’ll look to fight hard in front of a raucous Cowles crowd.
Zico Coronel (Saints)
Every practice and game we strive to play the next possession better than we ever have collectively played a possession previously. This weekend’s double header to Invercargill and Christchurch to face the Sharks and Rams represents a great opportunity for us to continue with this quest. They are both well coached teams, feature many strong players, and are sure to pose us some problems to solve, and in doing so enhance our learning. In turn we intend to present a few quandaries of our own.
Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Sky Tower Auckland Huskies
When: Sunday June 6
Where: Pettigrew Green Arena
Time: 3:00pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Kaine Hokianga (Hawks)
Our first game against the Huskies showed they are a talented group that play hard for each other. Game two against the Huskies provides us the opportunity to get back in front of our home crowd and to show we are much better than that first game suggested. With the support of our home fans, we'll make sure we play with the effort and energy required to protect our home court.
Aaron Young (Huskies)
Big trip for us this weekend as we head down to Taranaki and Hawks Bay for an all-important road trip. We understand the importance of every game, seeing the middle of the pack get tighter and tighter. Everyone is gunning for that final four spot, making every game crucial as we approach the halfway point of the season. Taranaki presents a great challenge under Trent, who have talent and experience in every position. We have to match their energy and focus on what we can control. Hawks Bay on Sunday will be a great matchup. I’m sure they will have the gym packed and ready for the battle.
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets vs EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls
When: Sunday June 6
Where: Fly Palmy Arena
Time: 5:00pm
Broadcast: Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Tim McTamney (Jets)
Sunday's game against the Franklin Bulls will undoubtedly be a tense encounter. After a single point loss in Franklin in the opening round, we will be looking for some payback. The Palmy faithful will be there in numbers to offer vocal and spiritual support to their Jets.
Jamie Reddish (Bulls)
The Jets are a fantastic team who everyone knows are much better than their W-L record right now. They'll be extremely hungry for a win in front of their home crowd and we will have to execute perfectly in order to overcome them. Both of these teams like to get up and down so I'm sure it will be an exciting game for fans to tune into!
