Mackay basketball will play its first competitive matches since 2019 this weekend, as the NBL1 North division begins after a COVID-cancelled season

Mackay basketball will debut in the new NBL1 North competition, with the opening weekend the first since COVID-19 cancelled last season

Three time QBL winning Mackay Meteors coach, Joel Khalu, is excited for the new NBL1 North season. Picture: Aidan Cureton

Mackay basketball will make its long-awaited foray into the NBL1 this weekend, with both the Meteors and Meteorettes opening their seasons.

Both sides will feature in a double-header to begin the season, with games in Townsville and Cairns scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights.

Meteors coach Joel Khalu said it was an exciting time to be a basketball fan in Mackay.

“It’s been a long time coming, with last season being cancelled,” he said.

“Everyone’s pretty pumped the season is back, and everyone’s excited to play.”

Mackay entered the NBL1 North league in 2020, but never played a game as COVID-19 forced the season’s cancellation.

Khalu said the side was ready to go in its first competitive match in more than 18 months.

“We’ve had a really good pre-season leading in, the only difficulty was that we didn’t have as many pre-season games leading into the year,” Khalu said.

“We usually get three to four games against Rockhampton and Townsville, but we haven’t really had the chance to do that because no one was really travelling in the pre-season to play.”

The move to the NBL1 will give Mackay fans greater access to games, with the matches streamed and detailed statistics recorded.

US import Jerron Jamerson has signed with the McDonald's Mackay Meteors for the 2021 NBL1 season. Picture: Mackay Basketball

Khalu said the transition to the new league was important for the growth of elite-level basketball in the region.

“The professionalism surrounding the league, both on and off the court, is fantastic and it’s great we’ve managed to make that leap,” he said.

“We don’t hide the fact that our goal is to win a championship every year, and even though we’re playing in a league with a better standard of basketball that doesn’t change.

“We’re a club that has the players and the resources to compete for championships, so that’s where we want to be, but it’s a long season and we’ll have our eyes on the prize the whole way through.”

Khalu expected some disjointed play in the first few weeks as players settled into their roles within the team.

“I’ve got some really good leaders who can help out, but these first few games will have blokes settling into their roles and niches in the group,” he said.

Jerron Jamerson and Emmanuel Malou are two recruits Khalu is excited to see on the floor, with both opening the season in the starting five.

They will start alongside Mackay stalwarts Chris Cedar and Hayden Wicks, as well as another new Meteor Viliami Foketi.

The season starts against Townsville on Friday, with the Meteorettes playing at 6.30pm before the Meteors take the court at 8.30pm.

Originally published as Mackay basketball will play its first competitive matches since 2019 this weekend, as the NBL1 North division begins after a COVID-cancelled season