Petrie’s huge call on Carrara venue
BULLETS ace Anthony Petrie wishes the new Carrara Indoor Stadium was around in his Gold Coast Blaze days, labelling the facility “world class”.
The NBL will make a longawaited return to the Gold Coast tonight, with the Bullets to go head-to-head with Melbourne United from 5.30pm.
Petrie, a product of Tenterfield, spent three seasons at the Blaze until their 2012 demise.
In that era, games were played out of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach. It doesn’t compare to the Carrara venue, Petrie declared.
“I wish we had this facility when I was down here,” he said. “It’s a remarkable place. It’s world class so they deserve FORMER Blaze star Chris Goulding kickstarted the argument in Friday’s Bulletin, pleading for the NBL to keep Gold Coast in mind for future expansion. Cast your vote and have your say at: goldcoastbulletin.com.au
the opportunity to be able to host an NBL match.”
Petrie was impressed with the Bullets’ first visit to the stadium when they met China in July and said that encounter had spoken volumes for the sport’s support on the Coast.
“It’s exciting (to be playing NBL on the Coast again). I had a wonderful time here, it’s very exciting for the community here at Gold Coast,” he said.
“My kids are part of this local association, Gold Coast Basketball.
“For us as a Brisbane Bullets brand to be able to come down and share this experience of elite basketball in Australia with the kids down here at the Coast who continually produce great players is a wonderful thing for not only our club but the NBL as a whole.”
Having suffered a lastquarter fadeout to lose 101-96 to the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday, Petrie said his side needed to up their efforts without the ball tonight.
“Offensively we were executing really well and shooting at a high clip but defensively we let another team score another 100 points which is not acceptable and not what we want to be known as, as the Brisbane Bullets,” he said.
“They (Melbourne) are a star-studded team.
“They have got scorers everywhere on the floor, anyone that can light it up at any stage so just key it in and being proud and sitting down and going your man one-on-one.
“We have just got to be better at it and obviously they take a lot of shots so be ready to rebound, control the defensive boards and that will go a long way towards helping us win the game.”