Basketball finals offers a chance to train with champions

The University of Auckland Interfaculty Basketball Tournament finalists have been found and will compete in the finals this Thursday afternoon.

As well as playing for the tournament championship and points in the overall interfaculty sports competition, the teams will be competing for a coaching clinic run by the coaching staff of the NZ Breakers.

“Our interfaculty basketball tournament is one of our more popular tournaments and it is a growth sport especially in light of the NZ Breakers’ NBL Championship win,” says Director of Sport and Recreation, Louis Rattray.

“We’re pleased to have the NZ Breakers on board as we try to help create a University community that is as engaged with sport and recreation as it is with more academic pursuits.”

Two of the four teams will be making a second consecutive appearance in the finals, with both teams hoping to avoid being beaten finalists two years in a row.

In the women’s final, Arts will be eager to go a step further than last year, having played an exciting final game before missing out 33-34. Standing in the way of redemption will be the Department of Property, who prevented a replay of last year’s final by beating Law in the semi-final, 41-30.

The men’s final, to be contested straight after the women’s game, will see Commerce and Law vie for top honours. Law played in the 2010 basketball final and were beaten 60-63.

Tournament organisers will be looking for a repeat of last year’s finals atmosphere, with The Recreation Centre being packed with vociferous supporters, students and staff alike, and two closely-fought finals matches.

“Last year’s tournament was fantastic. We had two faculties competing in both finals and so there was a healthy rivalry both on the court and in the stands which added to a memorable atmosphere and we’re certainly hoping to replicate, or even better that,” says Tim Brightwell, Sport Development Manager at the University.

The Interfaculty Basketball Finals will be played at the Recreation Centre, on Thursday 26 May. The women’s final will be played from 1pm. The men’s final will follow at 3pm.

What: Interfaculty Basketball Tournament Finals
When: Thursday 26 May; Women’s final at 1pm, Men’s final at 3pm.
Where: The University of Auckland Recreation Centre, 17 Symonds Street, Auckland.