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JETS AND
SAINTS DOUBLE UP FOR RAMS
2 MAY 2001
By Corey Brown and Piet Van Hasselt
The
WestpacTrust Canterbury Rams begin their 2001
National Basketball League season with a
challenging double header on the road this
weekend.
The Rams match-up against the Property Broker
Jets in Palmerston North on Saturday night, (May
5) and the Saints in Wellington on Sunday
afternoon (May 6).
A full preseason campaign has provided the team
with an excellent opportunity to experiment with
new combinations and strategies. Promising
victories over Nelson and Otago have further
strengthened claims the Rams will be a strong
playoff contender this year.
With the recent rule changes and reduction of
playing time, the Rams will utilise a constant,
intense, in-your-face defence; with an emphasis
on the up-tempo, fast break style of game.
Several Rams players have made notable
performances in the countdown to the season
opener. American import John “Pope”
Whorton has shouldered the offensive scoring
load, providing on-court leadership and
experience. Veteran point guard Carlo Varricchio
has also excelled on the court, and will play the
majority of the 40 minutes of game-time.
The away double-header in the North Island has
Ram’s forward duo, Jon Disher and Andrew
Gardiner, up against their former team-mates in
the Jets and Saints respectively.
The fifth placed team from last season, the Jets
will be led by towering centre Ed Book who at
2.11 metres is the tallest player in the NBL.
Veteran playmaker Kent Mori and former Otago
Nugget Stacey Lambert will undoubtedly pose a
formidable challenge for the Rams guard-line.
The Saints, stacked with American talent, are one
of the favourites for the 2001 NBL title. Despite
finishing sixth last year, it has signed star
performers Tony Brown and Chris Webber, joining
experienced Kiwis Peter Pokai and Malcolm Opie.
The Rams will have to focus on restricting the
contribution of Terrence Lewis, the league’s
ultimate point scoring weapon and recent New
Zealand citizen.
The first home game for the Rams is Friday May 11
at 7:00 pm at the WestpacTrust Centre. Tickets
are on sale now at all Ticketek outlets.
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