Christchurch and New Plymouth to Host Breakers' Homecoming Games

The Sky Sport Breakers are underlining the club’s commitment to growing basketball across the whole of New Zealand, confirming A-NBL fixtures in New Plymouth and Christchurch next month.
 
Having been in Australia since before Christmas, the team will take advantage of the trans-Tasman bubble to return to New Zealand on May 16 after more than five months on the road.
 
New Plymouth will host the Breakers against the star-studded Sydney Kings on May 22 in a repeat of the electric January 17 match-up last year, when Rob Loe sunk a clutch 3-pointer in the dying seconds to beat the league leaders 88-81.
 
It was a crucial result in the Breakers’ incredible 11-3 run which made them statistically the best team in NBL during the second half of last season.
 
“The crowd and the atmosphere was pumping at TSB Arena last year, it showed on TV, and it helped us get the win,” Loe recalls.
 
“Being a smaller arena in New Plymouth, the fans are closer to the action, and the noise really echoes.  It is very cool to play there.”
 
New Plymouth District Council Group Manager Community and Customer Services, Teresa Turner, says the Breakers have built up an excellent relationship with fans in Taranaki over recent years.
 
“We’ve seen how popular they have been through their sellout games, and I can’t wait to get courtside and cheer them on,” she says.
 
“Bringing top sports games to our region is a big part of our blueprint to Building a Sustainable Lifestyle Capital, and this is going to be great news for a lot of people.”
 
Christchurch also hosts an enthralling encounter on May 25 with the Breakers facing South East Melbourne Phoenix – a team stacked with New Zealanders.
 
The highlight will be rising kiwi star Yanni Wetzell ( half-brother of TV star Pippa Wetzell), renewing his rivalry against the superb seven-foot giant Colton Iverson, who has set the NBL alight with the Breakers.
 
“I’m very excited to be heading to New Zealand and especially visiting Christchurch,” says Iverson from the Breakers’ temporary base in Tasmania.
 
When the game rolls around, it will be 466 days since Christchurch last hosted an A-NBL encounter.  
 
On that day back in February last year, the atmosphere created by more than 6,000 Cantabrians played a huge role in cheering the Breakers home in a 92-83 over the Phoenix.
 
“I’ve waited a very long time, ever since I signed the contract to get to the South Island, and I can’t wait to see what it has to offer,” says Iverson.
 
“Yanni is having an outstanding year, but in Christchurch, it’s going to be a bit different for him with our fans giving us extra support.”
 
Canterbury Regional Basketball Foundation General Manager Caleb Harrison says they are excited to resume their strong partnership with the Breakers.
 
“We are extremely grateful to the Breakers organisation for choosing Christchurch as a host city for one of their limited number of home games,” he says.
 
“The Canterbury public are going to be rewarded with the first international basketball game played in Christchurch for a long time.”
 
Tickets are available at Ticketek from 11 am today.