Mountain Airs to take on Malaysia

It’s never too early too look ahead to next season, and the Taranaki Mountain Airs will get to do just that with a rare off-season match against the Malaysian men’s national team in New Plymouth in late July.

‘‘It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up,’’ Mountain Airs coach Trent Adam said.

The match will give the Taranaki side a chance to give some of their fringe and development players some valuable court time against what is expected to be some tough competition.

‘‘It’s a good opportunity to get a game in there and to give the fans a good game to watch,’’ Adam said.

NBL imports Daniel Gomis and Tylor Ongwae, as well as Jaylen Gerrand and Alonzo Burton will all be unavailable for the match, which opens the door for players like young point guard Matthew O’Connell to suit up.

‘‘They’ve put in a lot of work so it’s great for them.’’

Adam said he would be spending the next week or so doing some research into the Malaysian side, who he knew very little about.

‘‘They’re a bit of an unknown at the moment. But I’ll be doing some study into how they play and how fast they play.’’

The match will also provide the Augusta Taranaki Mountain Airs an opportunity to start their preparations for next year’s NBL season early, and will give Adam a look at those players who might have the potential to make the step up.

The sides will go head to head at New Plymouth’s YMCA on July 27 as part of the Malaysian team’s sixmatch New Zealand tour.

‘‘We thought it was great [to be playing at the YMCA again]. It’s been such a big part of basketball in Taranaki for so many years.’’

The match will be the second the Malaysian side play in Taranaki on their tour, as the match up against a HoopNation New Zealand Select side at the TSB Hub in Hawera on July 26

Malaysia will also be playing games in Auckland, Whanganui and Tauranga during their tour, which runs from July 21-29.