2005 NBL Blitz draw released
One of the pre-season’s hottest teams, the Melbourne Tigers, will face off against the reigning title holders,
the Sydney Kings, in the opening round of the 2005 Philips Championship National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz
in Cairns this weekend.
The Blitz, which is the official pre-season tournament of the Philips Championship, will be held in Cairns
from August 26 – 27 and will feature the Tigers and Kings squaring off in a Pool A game at 6pm (local time)
this Friday night.
The Tigers, currently undefeated in the pre-season, pulled off the recruiting coup of the year when they
managed to sign Australian Boomer and former NBA centre Chris Anstey as a free agent to add to a talented
line-up that already included imports Rashad Tucker and Dave Thomas as well as Darryl McDonald, Stephen Hoare,
David Stiff, Neil Mottram and Daryl Corletto.
The Kings have plenty of talent themselves and will be shooting for an unprecedented fourth consecutive
title this season behind a line-up that includes Boomers Jason Smith, Mark Worthington and CJ Bruton, as well
as imports Damon Thornton and Rolan Roberts and last season’s rookie sensation Luke Kendall.
Another highlight of the Blitz pool matches will be the clash of last season’s runners-up, the Wollongong
Hawks, against the reloaded Brisbane Bullets at 12:40pm on Saturday.
Under the tournament schedule released today, Pool A consists of the Melbourne Tigers, Sydney Kings,
Adelaide 36ers, Townsville Crocodiles, Hunter Pirates and West Sydney Razorbacks. Pool B will feature the
Wollongong Hawks, Cairns Taipans, Brisbane Bullets, New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats and a Big V All-Stars
Team.
A new feature of the Blitz event will be the addition of a special Three-point Shootout prior to the
commencement of the Semi Finals on Saturday.
The Blitz will be held at the Bendigo Bank Centre (239 Aumuller Street, Manunda Cairns). Tickets for the
event are on sale at the Taipans shop at Stockland Cairns on 07 4054 4511. Tickets are $10 per day for Adults
or Children or $30 per day for a family pass(2 Adults plus 2 x Children).
Full details of the Blitz schedule are below.
| Pool A | Pool B |
| Adelaide 36ers | Big V All-Stars |
| Hunter Pirates | Brisbane Bullets |
| Melbourne Tigers | Cairns Taipans |
| Sydney Kings | New Zealand Breakers |
| Townsville Crocs | Perth Wildcats |
| West Sydney Razorbacks | Wollongong Hawks |
| Time |
Court 1 (Main) |
Court 3 |
Court 4 |
| Friday August 26 |
| 6:00pm | Townsville vs Adelaide | Hunter vs West Sydney | Melbourne vs Sydney |
| 6:55pm | Townsville vs West Sydney | Hunter vs Sydney | Melbourne vs Adelaide |
| 7:50pm | Cairns vs Perth | Big V vs Wollongong | Brisbane vs NZ Breakers |
| 8:45pm | Cairns vs Brisbane | Perth vs Wollongong | Big V vs NZ Breakers |
| |
| Saturday August 27 |
| 11:45am | Sydney vs Townsville | Adelaide vs Hunter | Melbourne vs West Sydney |
| 12:40pm | Cairns vs Big V | Perth vs NZ Breakers | Brisbane vs Wollongong |
| |
| Quarter Finals |
| 1:35pm | A1 vs B4 (Game 1) | A2 vs B3 (Game 2) | |
| 2:30pm | B1 vs A4 (Game 3) | B2 vs A3 (Game 4) | |
| Semi Finals |
| 4:00pm | Winner G1 vs G4 | Winner G2 vs G3 | |
| Grand Final |
| 5:00pm | Winners Semi Finals | | |
Tournament Rules
- 2 x 12 minute halves (fully timed).
- 2 team time outs per game. One each half (all 60 seconds)
- 2 minute half time break
- Clock stops on each basket last 2 minutes in second half
- 15 minute break between games
- 4 personal fouls before disqualification
- 4 team fouls per half before bonus
- Extra period 3 minutes with no timeouts (unless unused timeout in regular game).
One minute break between the end of regular time and extra period.
- Clock stops on each basket in last two minutes of each extra period.
- All other rules are as per new FIBA rules.
- Top four teams in each pool will advance to the Quarter Finals based on win-loss.
If tied, final placings will be determined by: First Tiebreaker – head to head, Second Tiebreaker – points
for and against.
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