Basketbailers seek Government help

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 8

Basketbailers seek Government help

The New Zealand Basketball Federation has asked for Government assistance to send the New Zealand men’s basketball team to the World Cup in Spain later this year.

The executive director of the federation, Mr Joe McLeod, said last evening that the trip would cost $289,200. Sponsorship for some of the amount had been guaranteed, and submissions have been made to the Minister of Sport, Mr Moore, for more finance. A reply Is expected in the next few days. Mr McLeod explained that the cost of New Zealand competing in Spain (“we had no other alternative but to accept it seeing the world body regarded New Zealand as being in the top 24 in the world”) had not been included in the new season’s budget. “It was something of a surprise and we welcome the opportunity of playing

among the world’s best,” he said. ■ -

• The Tasmanian team, Hobart-Tazzie Devils, will not tour New Zealand early in the season. The federation is negotiating with a leading New South Wales club, Sydney Supersonics, to replace them.

® After some delays, the Countrywide Building Society will again sponsor the national men’s league championship.

• It is almost certain that a North Island team, "Basketball Times,” will compete in this week-end’s Ashburton tournament. The editor of the newspaper, Mr Tom Hyde, of Auckland, will return to New Zealand from the United States today, and the application will then be confirmed. The team, which will include New Zealand’s top player of last season, Ronnie Joyner, should prove a big attraction to the annual Ashburton tournament.