Basketball: Breakers signings complete starting 5

The Breakers have signed Kiwi-born Adrian Majstrovich to complete their starting five, his recruitment probably spelling the end for Dillon Boucher.

Big Ben Pepper is believed to have bought a house in Auckland in the past week, signalling his intention to stay, and contracts for both are expected to be put before the Aussie NBL this week for registration.

Those two will join Mike Chappell, Aaron Olson and Paul Henare as the top-liners.

Next cab off the rank may be Lindsay Tait, who has reportedly impressed coach Andrej Lemanis in the first two games of a six-game tour to China, the Breakers now two-from-two after beating the Melbourne Tigers 110-85. They play Korean side Liaoning, who lost to the Tigers, before travelling for a second three-game tournament.

Olson scored 22 against the Tigers, American Chris King 19, Tait 18, the Townsville Crocodiles centre Greg Vanderjagt who is playing with them shot 17, Kiwi-Canadian Brent Charleton 13 and Blake Truslove 8.

"The style of game we are playing is definitely suiting Aaron, and we are extremely pleased with how he is responding," said assistant coach Wayne Brown, pleased also with six players in double figures.

"Lindsay Tait again was very solid, with Brent Charleton shooting the ball well coming off the bench. Our big men again did a great job in both scoring and dominating the boards."

Lemanis has plans to improve the Breakers' work under the post and has picked the 2.1m (7ft 1in) John Dorge, from Cairns, as an assistant for his playing and coaching experience and insight that will help Pepper and Majstrovich build their games.

Of last year's development players, Hayden Allen and Mika Vukona look to have a good chance of a contract, as both are playing well in the national league.

Breakers chairman Keith Ward said they were keen to develop local talent "but not to the extent of losing games and losing money". The 2m Majstrovich, though born in Turangi, cannot represent the Tall Blacks because he has already played for Australia at a junior level. Boucher's departure would leave the Breakers with just Henare as a national team member, after they started with four, including Pero Cameron and Phill Jones.

Ward said there was no conscious decision to cut the national squad members, who have commitments to the Tall Blacks at the Commonwealth Games next year. Rather, the personnel changes had come about because of Lemanis' desire to pursue a different game plan. Of Boucher, he said the board had been pleased with the way he committed himself to the team after the text messaging incident where the coaching was criticised.

"He played his heart out, we have a lot of time for the guy."

There would be no rush to fill out the bench. They still had an import spot to fill if Lemanis wanted to and room to move under the salary cap. Blake Truslove remains a likely component.

In the national league there was some form results: Otago still none from nine after losing to Taranaki and the Airs beaten in Christchurch. Both Auckland and North Harbour beat the visiting Saints and the Jets lost in Nelson, to leave Waikato at the top of the table with an eight-three record and Auckland next on seven-three, Hawkes Bay and the Heat five-three and the rest struggling.

Otago coach Bernd Kupka copped a technical foul to go with two ejections from the court this season as his team lost 112-93 at home, but he regarded the performance as "another step forward, believe it or not. We played well for 28 to 30 minutes and hung in there. I mean, that [Taranaki]is a veteran team. They have a number of guys who have been around forever".

The Nuggets were just a point behind at times but fell apart in the fourth quarter after the coach was penalised, Airs guard Brad Davidson's outside shooting damaging, eight three pointers from 11 attempts and the visitors winning the quarter by 14.

Imports Mike King, 29, and Matt Lottich, 27, did the damage for Harbour as they beat Wellington 93-85. The Saints missed Brendon Polyblank and import Ronald Thompson on Friday night as the Stars turned a 44-43 halftime score to a 75-73 win. Captain Casey Frank recovered from a turned ankle in time to lead them with 19, import Kareem Johnson continues to work his way in and scored 18 and Mike Homik returned 17.

Auckland have a road double this weekend, away to Manawatu in Friday night's televised game then Hawkes Bay on Saturday. They will have Tait back for those, Olson arriving back from China later, on the day they travel south. His participation is likely to be limited.

Canterbury, who again relied on imports Mike Gardener with 29 and Ryan Prillman, 19, to beat Taranaki 117-92 at the weekend, travel for a re-match in New Plymouth then on to Waikato next Friday and Saturday. Otago go to Wellington and Nelson, which should allow those teams to improve their meagre records.