NBL Greats to select All-Stars

Three of the greatest names in National Basketball League (NBL) history will form the panel charged with the task of selecting the best-of-the-best from the Philips Championship to appear in the 2006 NBL All-Star Game.

Current NBL Hall of Famers Steve Carfino and Cal Bruton will be joined by the man voted as the greatest Philips Championship player ever, Andrew Gaze, to select the 20 athletes to play in this year’s All-Star Game, which will be held at Adelaide’s The Dome on Saturday 25 November.

NBL Events Manager Stacey Meadows said the trio were the perfect choice to form the All-Star Selection Panel.

“We wanted to ensure that the panellists had the right basketball credentials and were highly familiar with all current Philips Championship players,” said Meadows. “There can be absolutely no doubting that Gaze, Bruton and Carfino fit the bill in both those categories and we are confident they will choose two teams that will truly reflect the star players that the public will want to see on November 25.”

Carfino, who covers the Philips Championship each week as part of the FOX SPORTS commentary team, said he was delighted to be involved.

“I’m honoured but at the same time it is a logical choice as I see more games then any body else in the League, so I’m happy to be able give my opinion on who should be selected,” he said.

Gaze said he was pleased to see the All-Star Game continue to grow in the third year since its re-introduction.

“It’s a great step forward for the All-Star game,” Gaze said. “It is an honour to be considered a worthy judge to decide who will be a part of the game this year.”

“Selections are always tough, no matter what the sport, but I am really looking forward to getting together with Steve and Cal and working out who will play in this year’s All-Star game.”

Bruton said the recent progress of the League made it an exciting time to be involved in the All-Star selection process.

“I’m very pleased and excited to be invited to be involved with the All-Star Game this year,” Bruton said.

“With the new direction the league is taking I’m very excited about the future of the League potential of the players. I’m looking forward to the selection criteria, with so many top quality players to choose from.”

The Selection Panel will choose two teams of ten players, one consisting of Australians called the Aussie All-Stars and the other representing non-Australian players, dubbed the World All-Stars.

Fans will still be able to participate in the selection process this year by being able to vote through nbl.com.au (the NBL’s official website powered by Sportal) for the players on each team that they wish to see starting the All-Star Game.

The Selection Panel will meet in Melbourne on Saturday October 28 prior to the Melbourne Tigers versus Townsville Crocodiles game to select the two teams as well as five emergency players. The Aussie and World All-Star Teams will then be announced publicly on Wednesday 1 November. Fans will then have until Wednesday 15 November to vote for the All-Star starters.

The 2006 NBL All-Star Game is part of the Philips Championship and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.