Lae Blazers spice up Aussie carnival

MACKAY’S Australia Day Basketball Carnival will have an international flavour when the first ball of the event is bounced tonight.
The Lae Blazers, a men’s squad from Papua New Guinea, will compete in the 16-team event.
The carnival is expected to attract thousands of spectators and organisers think it will be a great success.
Mackay Basketball general manager Joel Khalu said it was shaping up to be huge.
“We have 33 teams in total, about 250 players,” he said.
“In terms of spectators, we are expecting 800 to 1000 each day.
“It’s a huge event for the region, with teams from around the state, as well as PNG playing.”
Khalu said it was fantastic that a PNG team had nominated to play.
“I know Lawrence and his staff have been working extremely hard in Lae, securing sponsors for the team so they could make the long journey down to Mackay,” he said.
“It’s definitely a feel good story when you consider a lot of these young men have never travelled outside of Papua New Guinea.”
That was what the tournament was all about, bringing in teams from different places to have fun playing basketball together, Khalu said.
“This will make them an exciting team to watch throughout the tournament,” he said.
“Hopefully the Papua New Guinean community in Mackay can come out in large numbers to support the boys, which will make it all that more special for them.”
The Papua New Guinea team, made up of players aged 18-21, has been training for the competition since early November.
Lae Blazers head coach and PNG basketball legend Lawrence Lahari said the team had been working hard for the intense competition.
“We have been varying our sessions from long-distance running to sprint work for our fitness, while also making sure we get in a few sessions on-court each week also,” Lahari said.
“Our players are pumped about the tournament and playing in Australia.
“Most of our players have never played on an indoor basketball court, so it’s definitely exciting for us to be travelling to Mackay to have some fun playing the game we love.”
Thirty-two teams will battle it out for K13,333 (A$6,000) in prize money.
The first game starts at 6 o’clock tonight.
Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday will feature action from 9am to 9pm.
Sunday’s grand finals start at 10.30am.
Entry to the stadium is $4 per person per day.
For more information contact Mackay Basketball on 4957 5543. – Daily Mercury

i