It's R8 of the Sal's NBL and the race for the Final 4 is heating up! Here's this week's schedule, coach quoates and ticket information.
Sky Tower Auckland Huskies vs Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams
When: Thursday June 17
Where: Eventfinda Stadium
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 3
Tickets: click HERE
Aaron Young (Huskies)
Big round ahead, as we start to assemble what our full team looks like. With just the one game this round, it’s crucial we walk away with a win. Every game is a must-win for us at this stage, so we have to be disciplined and control what we can control going into Thursday. The rams are in a similar spot, so they will be equally hungry to gain an advantage on the ladder. It’s exciting that the middle of the pack is so tight, going to make for a home run finish to the season.
Mick Downer (Rams)
Bring on another tough game tonight as we take on the rebuilt Huskies on their home turf. Our opposition have recently welcomed some additions to bolster their stock, while we welcome back our own Joe Cook-Green who has a full recovered from his injury. It’s entering an exciting stage of a season and we are pumped about about this game and also looking forward to having more troops re-join us in the near future. The game, like most will come down to possession, tempo and guarding the 3pt line.
Mike Pero Nelson Giants vs Go Media Otago Nuggets
When: Friday June 18
Where: Trafalgar Centre
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport Pop-Up 1
Tickets: click HERE
Mike Fitchett (Giants)
A huge week for us with the Nuggets coming to town. Not only is this a must win game against a direct competitor for the Final 4, but we are celebrating our 40 years in the NBL. Putting in a good performance in front of former players, coaches and club officials is a must!
Brent Matehaere (Nuggets)
Happy 40th Birthday Nelson Giants! As with all birthdays we hope to take home some treats! All frivolity aside, this match shapes up as really important to both clubs. The last time the Go Media Nuggets met the Giants it was an overtime thriller at the More FM arena. Both teams have had mixed fortunes since then and we need to ensure we come up with a plan or two to combat the multiple weapons that the Giants possess. Coach Fitchett will have had plenty of time to prepare as they come off a really long break since their win over the Airs.
Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Wellington Saints
When: Friday June 18
Where: Pettigrew Green Arena
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 8
Tickets: click HERE
Jacob Chance (Hawks)
The last 3 games, we have been really encouraged with our improved focus and intent on the defensive end. Shown a real ability to disrupt and generate points in the open court off stops, which is something we have put a real focus on over the last month. Now, we face an exciting challenge of testing where we are at against the best team in the competition. Our commitment to defending will get tested as will our ability to score. Wellington’s defence has clearly been the best in the league this season and the numbers support that, our challenge will be to continue to share the ball, space the floor and attack. I’m confident the guys are up for the challenge and we have had some great additions to the group this week, in particular with Jarrod Kenny who will steady the ship a little more at both ends and provide some valuable IQ and leadership to add to our already quality group. This is a big weekend for our club, taking on the Saints before heading to face the Jets who have shown they definitely have the talent to beat anyone. Great weekend to see exactly where we sit going into the back half of the season.
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 Friday’s trip to Napier to face the Hawks for the first time this season represents a great opportunity for us to continue with this quest. A team that features many strong players, they 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.
SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks vs EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls
When: Saturday June 19
Where: ILT Stadium Southland
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Rob Beveridge (Sharks)
The last time we played the Franklin Bulls we were beaten on their home court by 9 points in a game where we shot a very poor 6/35 from the 3 point line. This was a defining moment and reality check for us as a team and I believe it was a turning point as we have now won 7 games on the trot , playing well as a team and shooting the ball at a high percentage. This week’s game v Bulls will somewhat have a completely different look with Kyrin Galloway and Manel Ayol coming in as replacements for their injured imports Selby and Waterman. Both Galloway and Ayol have been very impressive and are going to be a handful for us with both players being very athletic and high scoring. Both teams like to play an up tempo style of game and the Bulls definitely like to get out and run in transition and shoot the 3 ball without hesitation. Although we are playing well, we fully respect Frankiln and know this is going to be a very tough game! We must be committed to playing better defence and slowing down their offensive game for us to come away with a win.
Jamie Reddish (Bulls)
We are really looking forward to getting down to Invercargill this weekend. The Sharks are a very well coached team that have weapons all over the floor who can hurt you at any given moment, so this is another chance for us to test ourselves against the hottest team in the league. We are looking to hopefully put on a great performance in one of the leagues best venues and build momentum going into a crucial part of our season.
Wellington Saints vs Steelformers Taranaki Airs
When: Saturday June 19
Where: TSB Bank Arena
Time: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport
Tickets: click HERE
Zico Coronel (Saints)
Saturday's game versus the Airs is sure to aid us in our pursuit of ongoing improvement coming off the back of the previous day. A well coached team and our second double header will present us with a real challenge. We look forward to meeting the challenge posed, the associated learning we will make, and putting on a spectacle for our Saints Family at TSB Arena in Wellington. In particular we’re grateful for the support of our game day sponsor Resene.
Trent Adam (Airs)
This weekend sees the Airs on the road with a double header against two of the iconic teams of the NBL the Saints and Rams, Both teams having players from their past in the league's top 40 in 40. Saturday night has us in Wellington to face the Saints. Zico and his staff has the team performing really well, with their disruptive defence setting the tone for them. They lead the league in defensive rating so it is important that our guys a very accurate on offence, with ball security, and with our spacing and timing. With some quality trainings through the week we are looking forward to the challenge in front of us.
Property Brokers Manawatu Jets vs Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks
When: Sunday June 20
Where: Fly Palmy Arena
Time: 3:00pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Tim McTamney (Jets)
A difficult few days on the road last round against the two NBL leaders. A good performance against the Sharks and some good showings from our youngsters against the Saints, have generated more confidence among the team. First quarter injuries to Jake Mckinlay and Shane Temara against the Saints were difficult to take. However, this will provide a great opportunity for our younger players to prove themselves against a talent-laden Hawks side this Sunday. We look forward to the challenge.
Jacob Chance (Hawks)
This is a big weekend for our club, taking on the Saints before heading to face the Jets who have shown they definitely have the talent to beat anyone. Great weekend to see exactly where we sit going into the back half of the season.
Go Media Otago Nuggets vs EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls
When: Sunday June 20
Where: Edgar Centre
Time: 5:00pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 9
Tickets: click HERE
Brent Matehaere (Nuggets)
The Go Media Nuggets have weathered a storm or two and plugged a few leaks in the game plan and are ready to take on a very different Bulls at home. The Bulls team is a different horned beast than who we played in round one. They have cemented Isaac Davidson into the rotation and added imports Kyrin Galloway and Manel Ayol. This won't have changed their style too much as they look to get up and down the floor and shoot the 3 ball. Exciting times on our first Sunday game at More FM Arena.
Jamie Reddish (Bulls)
With our second game heading up to Dunedin this weekend, We look forward to taking on the Nuggets. A very well coached young team that is grinding out tough games and picking up results. We are aware of the threats they may pose with Isaiah Moss and Sam Timmins being one of the leagues best duos this season. We are once again looking forward to another challenge in what will be an exciting game for fans to come along to and witness two teams fighting for playoff positions.
Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams vs Steelformers Taranaki Airs
Where: Cowles Stadium
When: Sunday June 20
Time: 5:00pm
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport Next, Stuff.co.nz, NZNBL Website, Tribe Sports App
Tickets: click HERE
Mick Downer (Rams)
It's family day here in Christchurch as we play a return match against the Airs after last week's away victory up in the Naki. We hope to welcome back Max Darling into our team for today's game which will help bolster our frontcourt as we compete against a strong frontcourt led by former Ram and walking bucket Marcel Jones and big man Wynyard. It's been a real challenging few weeks for our side with several roster changes due to illness and injury but we are hoping to settle a little more and develop further chemistry on the court. Getting off to a strong start is the key for today as it served us well in our recent meeting against the Airs. We aim to play a hard fought and consistent game against our visitors.
Trent Adam (Airs)
Sunday night sees us on the back end of our road double header with a rematch against the Rams. A slow start to our game against them the previous week had us down early, and although we were able to make a run at them EJ Singler kept the Rams score ticking over. Reviewing video has allowed us to focus on a couple of area’s of concern, and we look forward to monitoring our progression in these key concepts. With the Rams also looking to get key players joining the team and back from injury, they will present a different look to what we played against last week.
