Rollers’ season doubts

ROLLERS boss Jimmy Williams predicts the entire NBL1 season will be cancelled amid the global uncertainty of the coronavirus.

Gold Coast were due to tip off their inaugural campaign on April 25 but will instead have to wait until Easter to find out if their season will go ahead.

Gold Coast Basketball president Williams (right) believes the season is in serious jeopardy which could farranging impacts on the association who last year steered both male and female Rollers teams to grand finals.

“My gut feel with what is going on is that NBL1 will be cancelled,” Williams said.

“We’ve worked really hard to get QBL and NBL1 program to where it is and we were really excited for the chance for our teams to go one better than last year and that remains until we’re otherwise told.

“We don’t know if we’re going to end up like Italy or France, I really don’t know, but we just want everyone to stay safe.

“Our members and players and kids are what we care about and making sure they’re OK in the long term.”

It has been rumoured some NBL1 clubs will soon withdraw from the 2020 season.

The decision by the Australian Government to close borders to non-residents has also left the Rollers’ imports stranded. Returning star Jacqueline LunaCastro is under a 14-day selfisolation lockdown in the US.

The Rollers’ NBL1 and Queensland

State League squads have continued to train but with extra precautions, such as sanitising basketballs and washing hands before and during training.

Williams was also worried about the financial impact a cancellation could have.

“We’ve got full-time staff that work for us and now the association is getting no income as junior and senior comps have also stopped,” he said.

“We’re still willing to proceed if the season goes ahead.

“We don’t know what’s happening with our sponsors as well but we’re at the hands of the government.”

The NBL1 North season, if it goes ahead, will not start before May 15.