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RAMS
vs GIANTS: NEWSLETTER
by Piet Van Hasselt
18 July 2002
Scenic Circle Hotels Canterbury Rams vs ASB Nelson Giants
Saturday 20 July, 3:30 pm
WestpacTrust Centre, Addington
#1 spot up for grabs
Tickets at Ticketek - arrive early to avoid the queue
Curtain Raiser: (CBL) Canterbury Quest vs Nelson College
- 1pm
1. GAME OF THE SEASON
The number one spot that the Scenic Circle Hotels
Canterbury Rams have been battling for all
season has come down to a one-off match against South
Island rivals, the ASB Bank Nelson Giants.
Both teams have the opportunity to grab the top placing
with a victory today that guarantees
them of a home semi-final next weekend and a chance to
host the final. The loser will probably have to contend
with a nightmare away fixture against the defending
champion Waikato Titans.
Saturday’s match promises to add another chapter to
the storied rivalry between the Rams and Giants, with no
love lost between these teams on the court. The Rams are
welcoming back “Mr Clutch” Terrence
Lewis who has been absent for the last three
Rams games with Tall Black duties. The game could develop
into a series of one-on-one contests. Rams’ big man John
“Pope” Whorton will face his toughest
challenge this year against a reinvigorated Ed
Book who was announced to the World Champs squad
earlier this week. The point guard spot matches up
Rams’ playmaker Carlo Varricchio
and Giants’ Judd Flavell.
Sharpshooters Lewis and Nelson’s Phill
Jones are both capable of taking over and
single-handedly winning the game down the stretch.
Coaches John Watson and Nenad
Vucinic will have to bring their best strategy
to determine the outcome. No doubt the winner of this
colossal encounter will feel they have fully earned the
number one spot.
2. CRAIG FARRANT SET TO HANG UP BOOTS
The Rams’ jumping jack and offensive spark, Craig
Farrant, is set to hang up his boots at the end
of this season. Craig earned his reputation as a tough
competitor, playing through many injuries in his career.
This is Craig’s 14th NBL season, having played for
the Rams in 1989 and 1999-2002 and Harbour 1990-98. He
still holds the all-time record with eight blocks against
Palmerston North in 2000. Craig’s athletic prowess
remains as strong as in his first years in the NBL and he
became a deadly three-point shooter during his second
stint with Canterbury. The Rams wish Craig, wife Sari and
son Jabez the best for the future.
Regular Season Stats: 216 Games, 4624 Minutes, 2063
Points, 922 Rebounds, 176 Blocks, 166 Steals, 155
Assists.
For Craig's full bio visit: https://rams.org.nz/22cfarrant.htm
3. CARLO IN POLE POSITION FOR NBL AWARD
Going into the last round of the regular season, Rams
point guard Carlo Varricchio is leading
the NBL in total assists. If he maintains this advantage
he will win the Dave Taylor trophy for the most total
assists in the league. Carlo has dished out 78 assists
and leads Paul Henare (Hawks) with 75, Jon Southey (Jets)
with 68 and Dave Langrell (Rams) with 66. Carlo
lighning-quick skills and superb shooting make him a
vital cog in the Rams triangle offence and fast-break
game. So let's cheer on Carlo's passes this weekend!
4. NUGGETS/TALL BLACKS GAME PHOTOS ON-LINE
Photos from last weekend's double-header feast of
basketball at the WestpacTrust Centre can be found on
Rampages:
Rams v Nuggets (3 pages) https://rams.org.nz/22photos_nuggets1.htm
Tall Blacks v Hungary (3 pages) https://rams.org.nz/22photos_tallblacks1.htm
5. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS
John Watson and the Canterbury Rams team would like to
thank our Canterbury Rams fans. The Rams have had their
best season in a decade and would like to dedicate their
success to you, our wonderful supporters. Once again the
Rams have lead the league in attendance, and Canterbury
has set a new benchmark in New Zealand basketball
attendance with 4500 people at the Tall
Blacks double header.
6. HOME NBL SEMI-FINALS & FINAL?
Listen to MORE FM and read The Press to stay up-to-date
on whether the Rams will host a home NBL Semi-Final or
Final. Tickets for a Canterbury Semi-Final at the
WestpacTrust Centre will go on sale Mon 22 July, Finals
on Mon 29 July, at all Ticketek outlets. A Semi-Final
game could take place either Fri 26 July or Sat 27 July,
and the Final will be played Sat 3 August. Tickets will
cost the same as a regular Rams game - let’s see if
we can beat the attendance record set last week. If the
Rams play an away Semi-final or Final LIVE on TVONE we
encourage fans to join players' families and friends to
watch the game on TV at the Vic & Whale (cnr Colombo
& Armagh).
7. CONGRATULATIONS TO WEEDONS SCHOOL
It's the second year in a row that Weedons School
has led the pack in the School and Community Fundraising
Programme, and once again they will receive a mystery
weekend for two in addition to a generous donation. This
year The Rambo Charitable Trust will donate approximately
$12,000 to Canterbury Schools and community Groups
through the programme. If you're interested in finding
out more for 2003, contact Leslie Watson, Trust Manager,
358-3865 or [email protected]
8. KNIGHTS & QUEST TO CONCLUDE SEASON THIS
WEEKEND
The Canterbury Knights (6 wins, 3
losses) & Quest (1 win, 8 losses)
are set to conclude their respective Conference
Basketball League seasons this weekend when they both
face Nelson College in Christchurch. The Quest play
Nelson College as the curtain raiser to the Rams game on
Saturday at WestpacTrust Centre (1pm). While the Knights
take on Nelson College on Sunday at Cowles Stadium
(12noon). Best of luck to both of the Ram's development
teams in their games.
9. WILDCATS TO FACE AWAY DOUBLE-HEADER
The Canterbury Wildcats (6 wins, 1 loss)
travel to the North Island this weekend to face the
Waikato Lady Titans on Friday and the Mighty Hawks on
Saturday. The Wildcats are coming off one of their most
dominant displays this season - a 103-38 caning
of the Otago Breakers last Sunday at Cowles Stadium.
10. TALL BLACK SQUAD NAMED FOR WORLD CHAMPS
Yesterday Coach Tab Baldwin announced a squad of 13
players that will tour Europe and compete at the World
Championships in Indianapolis, USA (Aug 28-Sep 9). Centre
Ed Book has won the hotly contested naturalised New
Zealand spot. Pero Cameron (Captain), Ed Book, Dillon
Boucher, Mark Dickel, Judd Flavell, Paul Henare, Rob
Hickey, Phill Jones, Sean Marks, Kirk Penney, Damon
Rampton, Tony Rampton, Paora Winitana.
For more information check out: https://rams.org.nz/22tallblacks.htm
 SCENIC CIRCLE HOTELS
RAMS SUPPORTERS: WEEKEND SPECIAL
Stay at any Scenic Circle Hotel New Zealand Wide and pay
only $99 incl. GST per room (2 person per room), extra
person rate applies. Please make your bookings through
0800 NZ Owned (0800 69 69 63) and quote 'RAMS'. Special
conditions apply. Subject to availability. Special valid
from 1/4/02 - 1/9/02.
Please
feel free to forward this information to your basketball
friends. Newcomers can subscribe to Rams News by sending
an e-mail to [email protected] with "sign me
up" in the subject line. Comments about the
newsletter can be sent to [email protected]
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