Basketball: Breakers head to China

The NZ Breakers basketball team leave today for a hastily arranged trip to China to play in an annual pre-season tournament following the last minute withdrawal of one of the participating teams.

In the absence of the club's New Zealand team players and head coach Andrej Lemanis, assistant coach Dean Vickerman will take a predominantly developmental side to China for the six team Lu An International Invitation Tournament in Changzhi.

The Breakers join the Melbourne Tigers, ACB Unicaja (Spain), Shanghai, Liaoning and an American team in the all expenses paid tournament, with each playing for a winner's purse of US$15,000 ($20,460).

The tournament gives the Breakers the chance to give valuable experience to some younger players, while also taking the chance to trial prospective imports for the upcoming Australian National Basketball League season.

- NZPA