Fire cool with big freeze
THE Townsville Fire hoped yesterday would bring a dousing of much-needed fuel, but CEO Sam Pascoe is confident the club’s flames will grow larger in due time.
The WNBL free agency period has been put on hold indefinitely, meaning the Fire will have to wait to rebuild a squad that finished at the foot of the ladder last season.
The league’s governing body said they were left with no choice but to delay free agency because of the coronavirus.
“The WNBL and the Australian Basketball Players’ Association have agreed to postpone the commencement of the free agency period due to the uncertainties of COVID-19,” the league said in a statement.
“The free agency period was scheduled to begin today (Wednesday), but will now be postponed until further notice, with a view to begin no later than May 1, 2020.
“The league and ABPA will continue to consult through this period aiming to advance the interests of all clubs and players through this challenging time.”
Pascoe said she had a meeting with the league on Monday so was aware the freeze was coming.
“We were ready to go today (yesterday) and we were really looking forward to it,” Pascoe said.
“It’s going to be a busy free agency when it’s here … it’s already been a long off season.
“But at the moment there’s much bigger issues going on in the world and we’re happy to work with Basketball Australia to figure it out.”
Coach Shannon Seebohm inherited the majority of the squad that struggled through large parts of the last season.
Pascoe said she was keen to see what Seebohm could do with a side he had pieced together himself.
“It’s given us more time and we’re going to make the most of it,” she said.
“We’ll continue to put together packages and work things out. We’re going to be even more ready than we were.
“It’s an exciting time because Shannon … gets to build the team.
“He’s worked out who he wants as his marquee signings and who he thinks will be the best fit for the playing group both on and off the court.”
The Fire only have young centre Zitina Aokuso and guard Kate Gaze on their books for the 2020/21 season at this stage.
Two-time WNBL champion Darcee Garbin has been a fixture on the Fire’s roster for the past five seasons.
With the inaugural NBL1 North season scrapped on Tuesday, Garbin made the call to relocate to her native Western Australia for the winter.
The 25-year-old was set to line up for the Townsville Flames in the WNBL’S off season.
Pascoe said the Fire would be in contact with Garbin about returning to North Queensland later in the year.