Suns rise again to shoot for the stars

Newly-appointed coach of the revived Northland Suns basketball team Roger Fong believes key elements such as structure and discipline are the key to the side's success in their first season back playing after a 12-year hiatus.
While most of the team will be selected from tomorrow's  open trials at Kensington Stadium, Fong has already set his goals as a coach ahead of the 2010 season.
"My goal for the team this year in second division is to at least compete with the teams in that grade, and for the younger members to gain experience and learn from the older players. I also want to instil a bit more structure and discipline in the team - so that they can be competitive ... I have heard comments in the past that Northland basketball is too casual, and I want to change that," he said.
After it was agreed by Tai Tokerau Basketball to revive the regional team, former Auckland Star guard Travis McIlroy was appointed chief executive and operations manager of the Suns. McIlroy then approached Fong to coach the  team as he wanted to concentrate on his management duties and playing for the side, who begin their campaign in the Conference Basketball League (nationwide second division) at the end of July, with aims of eventually playing
in the National Basketball League (first division).
Fong is no stranger to the way the national basketball competition works, having played for the Mobil Martyrs, who then became the Northland Suns in the 90s before the team went in to recess in 1998.
 "When I got too old to play, I put my hand up to coach and give something back to the sport. I coached the Whangarei Under-15s two years ago, and I coach my daughter's miniball team at Hora Hora Primary School this year, but haven't being doing too
much else since. This is another chance to get involved and I am happy to help out," he said.
Several players including the 1.9m McIlroy, along with Hukerenui's Corey Poa, who also played the Auckland Stars in the NBL last year, have already signed on to play for the Suns this season, and will provide some experience in the side this year. The rest of the team is set to be named after tomorrow's  trials, where McIlroy and Fong will be watching out for potential CBL players
 This shouldn't be a hard task, considering the depth of talent in Northland.
"When I go along to club [Whangarei] basketball on Wednesdays there are a lot of guys from the under-17 and under-19 age-groups, who have got plenty of talent we can tap into. We will be priming these guys, getting them ready to step up into the NBL, which Travis hopes we will move into within five years," Fong said.