League future in jeopardy

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 64

League future in jeopardy

By

MIKE JOHANSSON

The future of the national basketball league seems to be hanging in the balance -this week-end. With two rounds of play remaining, the league commissioner, Barry Wilson, of Wellington, and the Basketball Federation's executive officer. Joe McLeod, will this week-end be asking teams if there should be a final in the eight-week league. After Television New Zealand withdrew this week from a. verbal agreement to give coverage to some league games arid the proposed final in two weeks, it is believed that the league’s main sponsor will be withdrawing some its funds.

If the Countrywide Building Society withdraws the larger portion of its near $lO,OOO sponsorship it will be a bitter blow to the league organisers. The lack of TV coverage and the impending loss of some sponsorship has meant that Mr McLeod and Mr Wilson have been reconsidering the necessity of a final. "In most sports if you have a league you don’t have a final,’’ Mr McLeod said this week. He was against the staging of a final, but said all six teams in the league would be consulted this week-end for 'their views. The cancellation of the final on November'l4 or 15. would put paid to any

chances Canterbury has of winning the league title. Canterbury needs to win its games tonight against Palmerston North and next Sunday (November 8) against Del Jay Centrals Wellington to finish with 12 points from six wins to have a chance of being in the final. It would then most likely play the present frontrunners, Hamilton, in the final. The Canterbury coach. Mr Murray Mackay, made it clear yesterday that his side wanted the filial to continue and wanted to be playing in it.' “Of course we want a final. That’s what the guys have been aiming for,” he said. Canterbury faces its first hurdle on the way to that

final when it meets the coleaders, Palmerston North, this, evening, at Cowles Stadium. The home side will be out to avenge a narrow twopoint loss to Palmerston North on its home court. For the match Canterbury’s leading scorer, John Hill, has completely recovered from an ankle injury earlier this month and the side's two other big men, Lance Dixon and Andy Bennett, are in good shape, according to Mr Mackay. In other league matches today Drake PersonnelWaitemata is at home to Centrals and Hamilton is at home to Nelson. Tomorrow, Drake is at home to Nelson and Hamilton is at home to Centrals.