NBL Blitz hits town

TOP-CLASS basketball action will alley-oop into Ballarat this weekend with the NBL’s pre-season Blitz event set for the Miner Dome.

Eight games over two days will see teams from across the country’s premier basketball comp tipoff, including Melbourne United who feature local product Sam Short.

Short said he was looking forward to hitting the boards in front of his home crowd.

“It should be fantastic,” he said. “To have the opportunity to play with an NBL team in front of a home crowd, where I played SEABL (South-East Australian Basketball League), and in front of family and friends is going to be a great experience.

“Just to bring the level of basketball to Ballarat is going to be great for the city.”

The 195cm guard who grew up in Ballarat East and Alfredton takes the role of inspiring the next
generation of local players seriously and he knows what having access to elite talent can do.

“One of the first pre-season games for Melbourne United as a new club was in Ballarat and I was one of the young kids, sort of early teenage years, watching them play and just thinking how good would this be to play for them,” Short said.

“So if a couple of boys and girls come down and get that same feeling from seeing myself and the other superstars that’ll be playing in Ballarat, it’s a great honour and hopefully you can be that inspiration.”

On his own development, Short said his preseason was on track.

“I’m travelling really well,” he said. “Training’s been pretty tough but going well. I’m playing well when I’m in getting some minutes. I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

It’s not just top-flight basketball on show during the NBL Blitz. There’s also a range of activities set for the weekend including basketball clinics along with 3×3, wheelchair and Aboriginal and Torres Strait games planned.

Tickets start at $15 for kids and $20 for adults.