In what is a huge coup for Wairarapa basketball four national league men's teams will be playing at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton between Friday, February 15 and Sunday, February 17. Palmerston North Jets, Taranaki Mountaineers and the Hawke's Bay Hawks will join a Wairarapa invitation side in the HighwaymanMotel invitational tournament which will see the opening round of matches played on the Friday evening. The two winners will then meet in the grand final the following night with that match being preceded by the playoff for third and fourth between the two losers. A fourth NBL side in Saints of Wellington won't be involved in tournament action but will also be seen in action twice, firstly on Saturday morning when they will play a "friendly" against the Hawks and then on Sunday morning when they will do likewise against the Jets. Organiser Gareth Teahan said having four NBL sides playing over the one weekend in Masterton was a first for the Wairarapa and, as such, he is confident of all matches attracting strong public interest. "You just don't get this calibre of basketball here, it's something really special," he said.. Teahan said each of the NBL teams would have American imports and early indications were they would be playing them in Masterton, providing, of course, they had arrived in the country by then. "They will be taking things seriously. "They are at the stage where they are building combinations so it's an important part of their build up in that regard," Teahan said. Just who will be part of the Wairarapa Invitation side probably won't be confirmed until early next week. Former Tall black Kent Moori is a definite starter though and the team will include at least three or four local players. Plans are too for a training clinic for secondary school players to be held at the recreation centre on the Saturday morning between 9am and 11am.Registrations for this clinic are currently being taken at the Highwayman Motel. The Wairarapa men's and women's representatives sides will receive tuition from the coaches of the NBL sides on Saturday afternoomn.
