Next week, Sydney Kings, three-times national basketball champion, will go head to head with HOOPDREAMZ Jets, a newly-formed Sydney-based team featuring Philippine basketball stars. The question is, will you be there to see history in the making?
Both teams are due to play a special pre-season exhibition game on Thursday, 23rd September at the Kevin Betts Basketball Stadium in Mount Druitt.
The game marks the return of the Sydney Kings this season after a two-year hiatus. Former Kings Coach Bob Turner bought back the license from the NBL to revive the popular club.
Taj McCullough Source: Daily Telegraph
Taj McCullough Source: Daily Telegraph
The team appointed Sydney legend Ian “Moose” Robilliard as the new head coach along with former NBA player Conner Henry and Tim Hudson to assist him. The playing roster includes veterans Luke Martin, Damien Ryan, Graeme Dann and Ben Knight.
Imports Rod Grizzard and Taj McCullough will shore up the frontline, while young guns Julian Khazzouh, Luke Cooper, Jared Scoines, Blagoj Janev and Ben Madgen round up the lineup.
“Whatever it takes” is Coach Robilliard’s mission and vision for the club. “Each and every player will give 100% every time we hit the court, and we will be true to this style of play.”
Robilliard adds, “We have a very clear mindset to reconnect with the community. Our effort in Alexandria, Maitland and Mount Druitt is evidence that the Kings will be accessible to basketball fans across Sydney and the Greater Sydney basin.”
“West Sydney is extremely important for us because a number of our players come from the western suburbs and basketball is alive and well in the west.”
HOOPDREAMZ chief executive Marco Selorio is excited to bring the Kings back to the Blacktown area. “This will be our first exhibition game with the Sydney Kings since 2005 when they played Philippine PBA champions Talk N Text. We will play in the Filipino basketball heartland of Sydney, and we are looking forward to challenging the best team in Australia.”
The Dreamz Team:
Coach: Dave Reimer / Wes Rosen
Manager: Alberto Selorio
Asst: Roger Mantua
Team Owner: Hoopdreamz
PG Ben Arkell ( West Syd Razorbacks)
PF Scott McGregor (Syd Kings/Razorbacks)
C Duane Jordan (ABA Manly)
G Andrew Allen (ABA Maitland)
F Goran Veg (ABA Parramatta)
G Blake Borgia (Syd Kings) * injured
F Stefan Blaszynski (ABA Parramatta)
PG Daryl Pepito (ABA Hornsby)
F Tony LAlic (West Syd Rzrbks)
F Mel Gile (Philippines – University of Sto Tomas)
F Verge Alcantara (State League Minto)
G Cromwell Alvarez (Premier League ACBA)
Tickets are $10.00 presold online www.hoopdreamz.com.au. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, or you can reserve your seat by calling 0420307753.
Source: Media Release. Australian Filipina Magazine is a proud media supporter of Hoopdreamz.