Sean Pocock, Ray Noble and Sparks form a strong supporting cast, but Greening’s ability to drive to the basket and finish gives the veterans scoring punch.
Systems guard Keenan Poharama has nice shooting touch and the ability to make the three-point shot, but Pure Sound co-captain Siaki Tui — like his opposite — has a high regard for Brown, who could well be a match-winner tonight.
“Wi’s like a breath of fresh air in a team full of veterans,” Tui said of the 23-year-old.
“He can run for days and if you can score without setting up, so much the better, but we’ll need to contain Liam Greening.”
SES can push the ball in the open court, and Pure Sound without Dale Hailey on the floor will be more than matched for size by Systems, who are very much at home in the half-court.
The contest promises to be physical.
Pirates captain primedDespite Campion’s youth and inexperience, Pirates captain Gary Harding is not taking them lightly.
“For us, it’s a matter of guys being available, and structure,” he said.
“Week by week, we’re getting there.”
Pirates will be without either Thomas Tindale or Rongomai Smith tonight, and so Harding — who was excellent value in last week’s 39-36 win against East Coast — will have work to do at both ends of the court.
Fellow forward TK Moeke will provide more physical presence, but Campion, under coach Shane McClutchie, could spring a surprise or two this season.
The Filipino influence, with Raphael Heria, Edmund Arlos and company, lends McClutchie’s team experience at the guard position. Certainly talented Year 10 student Orlando Pedraza has quickness and can handle the ball.
Game 3 pits Uawa against East Coast.Uawa showed touches of class in their 21-point victory over Gisborne Boys’ High School seven days ago.
Inside force Harley Phillips and Rising Suns legend Reggie Namana both scored in double figures last week.
Uawa will look to do more than get the ball to Phillips close to the ring. On defence, they will look to dominate space and cut off the Coast’s lifeline to the basket. That lifeline is easy access by way of dribble-penetration from the Coast’s Brandon Paul. If it’s Paul’s night, he is an electrifying athlete with the capacity to both give assists and finish difficult plays fearlessly himself.
Week 6 will close with a classic derby: Gisborne Boys’ High School versus Lytton High School.
Late games can be difficult to “get up” for, but Boys’ High — who are bound for the Super Eight in Palmerston North next week — need a strong showing.
Coach Dwayne Tamatea has added skilful Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown, who played superbly at times for Pure Sound in 2015, and 6ft 3in 15-year-old Sam Veitch to a Boys’ High unit whose focus has been on teamwork.
“We need experienced players such as Joe Te Maari to relax and do the basics well and also for Herewaka Katipa to slow down when we need him to,” Tamatea said.
The busy Katipa, Year 11, has returned to Boys’ High after a year at Hamilton’s Fraser High School under former first-division championship and New Zealand Breakers foundation head coach Jeff Green.
Lytton's talentLytton have talent in their young back-court, including Genesis Tamatea, Raven Leach and Darius Waititi-Leach. They aim to hit the YMCA running after a three-week absence.
“What we have to do is keep things simple,” Lytton player-coach Jackson Leach said.
“That means running the lanes, rebounding well, getting the ball to the open man and taking better shots than they do.”
Tonight’s draw —
5.30pm: Pirates versus Campion College.
6.30pm: Pure Sound v SE Systems.
7.30pm: Uawa v East Coast.
8.30pm: Gisborne Boys’ High School v Lytton High School.
Bye: City Lights.
