Mount Gambier Pioneers president Tom Kosch speaks on uncertainty and unknown NBL1 season
The Mount Gambier Pioneers are no strangers to uncertainty. But – even with a return to the court still up in the air – the proud South East basketball club is not stopping soon.
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The Mount Gambier Pioneers are playing a waiting game as uncertainty surrounding the tip off of the elite NBL1 basketball season continues due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria.
The Pioneers, Mount Gambier’s only national sporting team, were given a one-year licence for 2020 to join the South conference of NBL1, regarded as one step down from the National Basketball League.
But the impact of COVID saw the 2020 season cancelled with doubts hovering when and if the 2021 season would be played.
Pioneers president Tom Kosch said his club was doing its best to keep active.
“Being part of the Victorian-based competition we are relying on what happens there,’’ Kosch said.
“We are still doing plenty of planning with some of our players, including juniors heading back to Adelaide to play in domestic competitions.
“We have had fantastic support from our town and sponsors so that has been great.
“Not being able to get on court has been disappointing but we are pushing ahead to be ready when we need to be.’’
Uncertainty is not unusual for the Pioneers however.
The club was left without a competition to play in last year after the South-East Australian Basketball League disbanded and was replaced by NBL1.
Mount Gambier was then denied a spot in the new competition but accepted into SA’s Premier League for 2019.
After one season in the Adelaide league, the Pioneers were granted a place in the NBL South conference.
NBL1 South conference consists of 18 teams in each of the men’s and women’s competitions.
Four teams are from interstate while Victoria will have 14 clubs, 11 from the metro area and three from regional.
NBL1 general manger Dean Anglin said it was too early to predict a likely start date.
“The reality as it sits now is we don’t know about 2021,’’ Anglin said.
“It’s an intriguing situation in NBL1 South with teams from all over.
“They are connected to their basketball associations and those associations need to be up and running.
“We are making sure we are ready to go but have to wait until we know more.
“We are hoping to get the traditional start next year just after Easter which will be early April.’’
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Contact Jessica Ball at jessica.ball@news.com.au
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