Wildcats now in Melbourne

BASKETBALL

PERTH: The Perth Wildcats have been allowed into Victoria but the Australian NBL team will need to spend the next two weeks living under strict Covid19 protocols.

The Wildcats initially tried to fly from Perth to Melbourne on Monday in a bid to escape Western Australia’s hard lockdown.

Instead, they had to fly to Sydney after they were denied clearance to enter Victoria.

That clearance from Victorian health authorities has since arrived, and the team left Sydney yesterday on a flight to Melbourne.

Under the conditions of entry, the Wildcats must remain in isolation for the next 14 days when they are not training or playing.

But the Wildcats will be allowed to travel to Bendigo to play Melbourne United on Sunday.

Perth will remain in Melbourne until the coZmpletion of the ANBL Cup, which starts on February 20.

The Wildcats have played just two games this season for a win and a loss.

The defending champion has not been able to train since last Friday’s onepoint loss to the Phoenix, when Jesse Wagstaff missed a regulation layup on the buzzer. — AAP