Basketball: Breakers plug injury gap ahead of clash in Napier

Shea Ili is out for the first part of the season with an injury. Photo / Photosport.nz

The New Zealand Breakers basketball team have wasted no time bringing in a short-term replacement for injured guard Shea Ili, with Australian Isaih Tueta (Izzy) jetting in on Sunday in time to join the team for their pre-season tour to Tauranga, Napier and Invercargill this week.

The 24-year-old has been playing his ball with Brisbane Spartans in the SEABL competition for the past two seasons and was recommended to the Breakers by Spartans player-coach and Breakers legend CJ Bruton as the ideal replacement for Ili while he sits out the first part of the season with a stress fracture to his back.

Breakers head coach Paul Henare is pleased at the speed with which they have got their man and the quality of the player.

"Izzy is a player that we were made aware of during the off-season but we just did not have room in our guard line so, to be in a position now to offer him the chance to show his value at NBL level, is great for us and obviously a great opportunity for him.

"We put the feelers out after Shea's injury and he was one of the names that popped up and then with the links to CJ that helped us get more background. I watched three of his games from the SEABL and was happy with what I saw. His main responsibility is to come in and replace what Shea gives us, that is what we will be looking for him to do."

In the short time Henare has spent with Tueta, he has been impressed with what he has seen.

"He is laid back, from the Sunshine Coast - where I imagine there are not too many uptight people anyway! He is fitting in really well, he will be thrown in the deep end this week but he is ready.."

Tueta was buzzing as he prepared for last night's game in Tauranga.

"I have been chasing this my whole life," Tueta said.

"I guess the last couple of years my focus has started to shifted to other things, I have just got engaged and I have been working more in my 'day job' in the childcare industry and love that.

"This chance could be huge though, I have maybe nine weeks and up to nine games to do the best I can and play as hard as I can with any court time I get to prove myself at this level."

The Breakers lost 80-70 to the Brisbane Bullets in Tauranga last night and will take them on again in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena tomorrow night and again in Invercargill on Saturday.