NZ Breakers go 2-0 to be crowned champions of NBL Blitz pre-season tournament

For what it’s worth, the New Zealand Breakers are champions of the Australian NBL’s Blitz pre-season tournament. Petteri Koponen’s men clinched the Bruton-Loggins Cup with their 94-75 Sunday night victory over the Cairns Taipans to finish the event with a perfect 2-0 record, four points clear of the also 2-0 Tasmania JackJumpers. The Breakers, who opened with a 109-101 Friday night victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix, completed an unlikely triumph as they kicked comfortably clear of the Taipans, despite star import Parker Jackson-Cartwright playing just 3:41 before leaving the game early with an apparent rib injury. The Kiwi club were led by polished performances from Kiwi duo Reuben Te Rangi (198-F/G-1994) (20 points, 6 rebounds) and Sam Mennenga (206-F-2001, college: Davidson) (18 points, 5 rebounds) and another highly promising effort from new import Izaiah Brockington (193-G-1999, college: Iowa St.) (18 points, 5 boards, 2 steals) who won the Ray Bormer medal for the event MVP. Brockington had been the star of the show in the Phoenix victory as he racked up 22 points, 13 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals in an impressive debut that bodes well for his prospects in the upcoming season. The lefty slasher looks a great pickup by the Breakers with excellent bounce, a nice high-release jumper and size and athleticism that looks set to make him a tough guard when the games really matter. Aussie swingman Sean Bairstow (203-G/F-2000, college: VCU) pitched in 12 points and 6 rebounds for the Breakers on Sunday night, and Kiwi shooting guard Izayah Le’afa addd 11 points and 7 assists. The Breakers played the Blitz without import forward Rob Baker II, who was in action for the USA in the AmeriCup tournament, as well as veteran Kiwi centre Robert Loe (211-F/C-1991, college: St.Louis) and Mexican teenage sensation Karim Lopez (202-G/F-2007), with the latter two still being eased back from injuries. The result means little in terms of realistic prospects for the season proper, with most teams down key players in this early part of the pre-season, and no one keen to show too much at this stage of preparations, but is a major fillip for the new-look Kiwi club under new ownership. The team will return from the Blitz on Monday for a week of practice at their Atlas Place HQ, before embarking on a two-game tour to Japan to round out their pre-season schedule. The Auckland-based club open the NBL season at Spark Arena on Friday, September 19 against the Brisbane Bullets.
Courtesy of: stuff.co.nz