Mount Gambier Pioneers to play in Premier League basketball competition in 2019

The Mount Gambier Pioneers have been granted entry into Basketball SA’s Premier League competition next year after clubs backflipped on their initial vote and a key administrator resigned.

Hobart’s Craig Moller battles with Mount Gambier's Lewis Thomas this season. Picture: Fiona Harding.

The Mount Gambier Pioneers have been granted entry into Basketball SA’s Premier League competition next year after clubs backflipped on their initial vote and a key administrator resigned.

The Pioneers had been searching for a new home since November when Basketball Australia decided to end the SEABL competition and they were denied a place in Victoria’s Big V league.

They came knocking on the door of BSA’s Premier League competition and clubs in Adelaide voted 6-4 in favour of allowing the Pioneers to enter the competition next year on Tuesday night. But that was one short of the required 70 per cent majority to pass the motion.

Independent chair of Basketball Adelaide, David Spear, subsequently resigned from the position and his place on the Basketball SA commission in the wake of the vote.

After days of backlash mainly through social media, some clubs then decided to vote again and this time the motion was passed on Friday.

“The Pioneers Basketball Club received notice this afternoon that the club’s acceptance into Basketball South Australia’s Premier League under a one-year license for season 2019 was accepted by BSA and Basketball Adelaide (as the representative organisation for the Premier League clubs),” the Pioneers posted on their Facebook page.

“Further information along with a joint press release will be made on Monday.”

Some clubs are concerned the Pioneers are looking at the Premier League competition as a short-term option only and will leave as soon as they get a better offer elsewhere.

Clubs also want them to field a women’s team and contribute towards the estimated $4000 per road trip it will cost them to travel to the south east.

The Pioneers are one of SA’s most successful basketball clubs having won four SEABL championships since 2014.

Basketball SA chief executive Phil Sinnott could not be contacted for comment on Saturday.