Sky Sport Breakers Join Forces with Cross-Code Friends for Celebrity Game Nov 26

The Sky Sport Breakers have reached out to their sporting friends and are proud to announce a celebrity basketball game benefitting the Starship Foundation.

Scheduled for November 26 at Spark Arena, the Manuka Doctor All Star Celeb Slam will feature sporting and media personalities, playing alongside Breakers stars, in mixed teams captained by Tom Abercrombie and Finn Delany.

“It’s the incredible support from New Zealand owned and operated Manuka Doctor, our naming rights partner for this inaugural event, which has taken a concept dreamed up in a meeting at Sky, and made it a reality,” says Breakers owner Matt Walsh.

We reached out to the Breakers’ cross-code sporting friends about raising funds for the Starship children’s hospital, and we have had an overwhelming response.”

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, Silver Fern superstar Irene Van Dyk, Winter Olympic bronze medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, and Warriors Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will all take to the court alongside Breakers stars Corey Webster, Rob Loe, Tai Webster, Jarrad Weeks and Taine Murray.

Other names confirmed today include double Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray, legendary racing driver Greg Murphy, boxer Junior Fa, Black Fern Ruby Tui, former All Blacks wizard Carlos Spencer and politician David Seymour.

The Breakers will reveal more names in the coming weeks, plus details on how two lucky fans attending the game can win a chance to play.

The pre-sale goes live at midday today, with general tickets on sale at Ticketmaster from next Tuesday, October 27 at 9 am.

“COVID-19 has hit all New Zealander’s hard,” says Breakers owner Matt Walsh.

“The Breakers organisation has strong community roots and we want to play our part in the Covid recovery by creating something for the events and hospitality industry.

“All elite sport has been affected this year, so why not bring the wider New Zealand sports family together for a celebration of sport and a good cause?”

“We have been overwhelmed by additional support from our wider corporate family including Giltrap Skoda & Nissan, Barfoot & Thompson, Sky Sport, Mai FM, Burger King, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Bartercard.

Together we are aiming to raise as much money as possible for Starship kids.”

Basketball is the fastest-growing participation sport in New Zealand school-aged children and the second most popular sport with New Zealanders under 39.

ATEED Head of Major Events, Richard Clarke, says the event is another example of how organisers are looking to offer Aucklanders something different.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for locals and visitors to be part of a unique experience with the added bonus of supporting a worthy cause, and another much-needed boost for the events and hospitality industry,” says Clarke.

“We encourage everyone to head along for a weeknight out and get behind what promises to be a great event at Spark Arena.”

The two teams’ exact makeup for November 26 is to be unveiled closer to the game through an NBA style draft.

One team will be captained by Breakers Captain Tom Abercrombie, whose side will be coached by Dan Shamir.

The other will be captained by Breakers Star Finn Delany and coached by Shamir’s NBL assistant Mody Maor.

It is the first time an entertainment basketball event of this kind has happened in New Zealand.

The Manuka Doctor All-Star Celebrity Slam takes place just under two months before the Breakers NBL21 campaign tips off in January.

Australian critics are already predicting the Breakers will reach the championship final following shrewd recruitment in the off-season.

Former Atlanta Hawk and two-time NBL All-Star Lamar Patterson, and standout Tall Blacks Point Guard Tai Webster have signed with the Breakers.

Australians are also concerned because Shamir has retained the core of last season’s side, which was statistically the best in the league in the second half of last season.

The Breakers went on an incredible 10-4 run, capturing the public’s imagination on the way, with gameday attendance at Spark Arena up an astonishing 37 percent.