‘A game’s vital’ in beating the Saints
They have played the Wellington Saints twice on the road but the Hawks have come away without any points this season.
Tomorrow the Taylor Corporation Hawks have a chance to make amends when they host the Cigna-sponsored Saints in week seven of the Sal’s National Basketball League in a 3pm tip off at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale.
So what does it take to beat the NBL defending champions, who are second on the table but have played one game fewer than the hosts?
Perhaps the Hawks player most suitably qualified to try to answer some of the crystal-ball questions in the Zico Coronel-coached Bay franchise side is Dion Prewster, of Wellington.
“It’s going to be pretty hard because they are a really talented team and are defending champs for a reason,” says Prewster, who played for the capital city franchise side from 2014-16.
The 28-year-old, returning to roost with the Hawks after a stint in the ProA second-tier league in Germany this year, believes nothing short of “near-perfect basketball” will see the Hawks beat the powerhouses.
Prewster says sticking to their blueprint is imperative.
However, the task for captain Jarrod Kenny and his troops has become harder without the services of Angus Brandt and Everard Bartlett.
Australian import centre Brandt has returned home to represent the ANBL All Stars team in China.
Veteran clutch shooter Bartlett, of Hastings, is away on international duties with the New Zealand team in the Philippines for the Fiba 3x3 World Cup, which tipped off yesterday.
“They are two really key players for us so that’ll obviously provide opportunities for other guys to step up to contribute,” says Prewster.
The 1.94m tall swingman says the Saints again will provide a good yardstick for the Hawks.
No doubt, the PG Arena will play a key role in providing support but it’s a two-edged sword where expectations are raised to eke out victories.
“You have to set up for [home] games that warrant a victory so, yes, it’s good to have the hometown behind us but we also have to back it up with a good performance.”
He says the pressure will be higher as the Hawks are coming off a couple of losses on the road, albeit to potential Final Four playoff contendersthe SIT Zerofees Southland Sharks and Mike Pero Nelson Giants.
With 10 points, the Hawks are equal-fifth on the NBL table with the Wheeler Motor Canterbury Rams, who last night lost 93-80 to the Saints at Horncastle Arena, Christchurch.
The Wellingtonians won’t lack incentive. If they beat the Hawks tomorrow, they’ll be league leaders after sitting second on equal 14 points last night.
The Hawks have lost three of their last four and are in must-win mode. They have made the PG Arena a fortress again this season but that status will also be put to the test tomorrow. However, the Bay will have the rub of the court to end the regular season, hosting seven of their last nine matches at the PG Arena.
In the matches against the Saints, the Hawks succumbed by eight points in week three but whittled it down to a three-point loss two weeks later.
Saints point guard Shea Ili is averaging 26.5 points in the two games, with coach Kevin Braswell rolling him out an average 36 minutes a game.
Kenny, the team’s leader in minutes played per game at 32.1, is under similar pressure.
Hawks swingman Ethan Rusbatch is the player of last week for his input in the 91-76 win over the Rams.
Tall Black Rusbatch scored 22 points, including four threepointers and added nine assists against his hometown team.
Kenny had delivered 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.