The Canterbury Rams have made a strong start for the 2016 campaign by signing four players headed by co-captains, guard Ethan Rusbatch and forward Marques Whippy.  Centre Gareth Dawson is back and is joined by combo guard Marcus Alipate who is a graduate of the University of St Thomas in the USA.

Canterbury product Rusbatch, 23, returns for his third season with the Rams and he is hungry for higher honours having received his first Tall Blacks trial in July.  He averaged 15 points on 39 per cent from three-point range and five rebounds per contest.

“Ethan has committed himself to improving his game.  A lot of people are not aware of his all-around game.  I fully expect him to play a great season,” said Head Coach Mark Dickel.

Burly Fijian-born forward Whippy, 29, has made Christchurch his home with his young family who are expecting the arrival of their second child in the new year.  His strong basketball mind and ability to read the game spearheaded the Rams defensive efforts.  Whippy averaged eight point and eight boards, as well as a league second-best 2.3 steals per game.

“I see Whippy as the key.  He is in much better physical condition this year and he looks really strong,” said Dickel.

Dawson, 26, joined the squad mid-way through the 2015 season and has been working hard at his game over the off-season.  He adds Australian NBL experience from the Wollongong Hawks and Cairns Taipans, and championship winning experience from his time with the Southland Sharks who won the NBL title in 2013.

“He is a physical big man who can shoot to 20 feet.   Gareth gives us a physical presence,” said Dickel.

Alipate is a newcomer to the squad from the University of St Thomas College. During Alipate’s career at St Thomas his team went 98-19, for a career 84 per cent winning record.   They qualified for four NCAA Div III tournaments including advancing to the semi finals in 2013-14.  He shot 47 per cent from three-point range over his career and averaged 13 points in his senior year.  Alipate has a strong sporting heritage with his father Tuineau playing football at Washington State and with three NFL teams.  His mother, Lisa, was a gymnast and track and field athlete at Washington State.  His two older brothers play college football in scholarship programmes, and his cousin Ray Maualaga plays line-backer for the Cincinnati Bengals.  He will qualify as a local player in the NBL due to his Tongan parentage.

“Marcus is a good young player.  Shoots the ball exceptionally well,” said Dickel.

The Rams farewell experienced campaigner point guard Jeremy Kench who has retired after a playing career stretching back to 2003 with the Rams.  Kench was one of Canterbury’s longest-serving players and most recent Tall Black representative, having played in the 2010 World Championships.  He was hampered by injuries during 2015 that limited his contribution, which led to his decision to retire for this year.

Rams Director, Andrew Harrison, said “The commitment of Jeremy to come back and play for two seasons was instrumental in having the confidence to revive the franchise and we are extremely appreciative of the contribution Jeremy has made to the Rams”.

A veteran of six NBL campaigns, playmaker Marty Davison has decided to shift his focus to refereeing where he has a massive future.  He will likely join an elite group of only a handful of players, who have also refereed in the NBL. Davison has been an exemplarily servant to the game and the Rams, always making an impact when called upon.  He is also picking up more work responsibilities at Frucor.

Middleton Grange School’s Sam Timmins is joining his University of Washington Huskies teammates in January, so won’t be a part of the 2016 Rams campaign.

Cashmere High School’s Joe Cook-Green is spending the season on the sidelines after suffering an Achilles injury during the national secondary schools tournament last year.

The remainder of the Rams roster will be announced in mid-January including imports.

The Rams season schedule have been finalised today, and the season will start earlier than usual with Tall Blacks entering the 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Canterbury will start their campaign on Friday 11 March against the Nelson Giants at Cowles Stadium, 7pm.  Season Tickets will be available for purchase later this week on www.rams.org.nz

The NBL has seven teams in the competition this year following the withdrawal of the Manawatu Jets.  This means every team will play each other three times, for a total of 18 games, over an intense 13-week regular season.  The top four will qualify for the finals weekend over Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The team has a busy preseason preparation with games in Brisbane over Waitangi Day with five games against Queensland Basketball League sides scheduled over February 4-8.  Canterbury will also participate in the NBL Preseason Blitz over February 27-28 in Porirua.

OVERALL – Times & Venues TBA

W1 – Fri 11 Mar, vs Nelson, 7pm

W2 – Thu 17 Mar, vs Taranaki, 7pm

W3 – Fri 25 Mar, vs Southland, 7pm

W3 – Sat 26 Mar, @ Waitakere (Auckland), 8pm

W3 – Mon 28 Mar, @ Hawkes Bay, 1pm

W4 – Fri 1 Apr, vs Wellington, 7pm

W5 – Fri 8 Apr, @ Southland, 7pm

W6 – Fri 15 Apr, @ Wellington, 7pm

W6 – Sat 16 Apr, @ Southland, 7pm

W7 – Sat 23 Apr, vs Waitakere, 7pm

W7 – Mon 25 Apr, @ Nelson, 2pm

W8 – Sat 30 Apr, @ Nelson, 7pm

W8 – Sun 1 May, @ Taranaki, 2pm

W9 – Sun 8 May, vs Hawks, 3pm

W10 – Sat 14 May, vs Hawks, 7pm

W11 – Thu 19 May, @ Taranaki, 7pm

W11 – Sat 21 May, vs Wellington, 7pm

W12 – Thu 26 May, vs Waitakere, 7pm

W13 – Finals – Thu 2 June, Fri 3 June, Sat 4 June (Days and Location TBC)