The New Zealand Basketball league is now underway and on the second day one of the clash that is going to take place is going to be between the Manawatu Jets and the Otago Nuggets.
The league has undergone a major overhaul in the post COVID world and now the players who went through a draft have been distributed more evenly so it is difficult to predict a winner as both the teams have worked hard on their drafts and managed to pick up some top players
This season of the league is going to be like none other as some players are missing and unlike the last few years there isn’t a clear top team or top teams who would otherwise be favorites to finish in the top 3.
Teams: Manawatu Jets vs Otago Nuggets
Match Timing: June 24, @ 11:00 AM
Venue: New Zealand
Both the teams were effective in their draft and managed to pick up some good players in their teams.
Otago Nuggets were able to pick up two of the league’s top players in Jordan Ngatai and Jarrod Kenny in the draft.
Manawatu Jets have also used this draft well and assembled a strong team.
Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris and Taane Samuel are a good front line. They will focus on their rebounds and then shift focus to scoring threats.
Nelson Kirksey isn’t available for the Jets due to a 14 day quarantine and will not be available until the 4th of July.
Manawatu Jets – Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris. Taane Samuel,. Jayden Bezzant, Nick Fee
Otago Nuggets – Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt, Kane Keil, Josh Aitcheson, Benoit Hayman,
Manawatu Jets squad – Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris, Jayden Bezzant, Taane Samuel, Nick Fee, Haize Walker, Tia Temata-Frost, Ashton McQueen, Matangirei Hipango, Josiah Laracy, Kalib Mullins
Otago Nuggets squad – Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt, Kane Keil, Josh Aitcheson, Benoit Hayman, Darcy Knox, Richie Rodger, Sam Aruwa, Akiva McBirney-Griffin, Jack Andrew, Matthew Bardsley
Team 1 –
PG: Hayman, Knox, Wakjer
SG: Bezzant
SF: Kell, Harris (SP)
PF: Samuel
C: Vodanovic
Team 2 –
PG: Hayman, Knox
SG: Aruwa, Mullins
SF: Ngatai (SP), Harris
PF: Samuel
C: Hunt
It is an evenly matched contest however Manwatu Jets are the expected to edge the contest.