Did you you know that the Pirate colours are a combination of the club colours from the Association's three founding clubs, the Sunnybank Hills Hurricanes (purple), the Runcorn Rockets (gold) and the Algester Hawks (red).
This Saturday night marks the first of two rounds of QBL home games where the Pirates celebrate the contribution of South West Metro Basketball's affilliated clubs to the senior representative program. This week at half time of the men's and women's games the Runcorn Rockets and the Algester Hawks under 10 teams will showcase their skills to the crowd. Hopefully these children can follow the pathway of the Rocket's, Verle Williams Jnr, Ryan Vines, Maddy Willey and Renee and Brendan Teys, Stephanie and Jarred Bairstow and the Algester Hawk's, Charlie Keimann, Celeste Williams and Savannah Au and the River City Hornet's Rob Sullivan. Anyone turning up in their club shirt or playing singlet receives discounted entry.
Reminder there is a free clinic from 9.00am to 10.00am at Hibiscus on Saturday morning. The Pirates will be having a their pre-game shoot around from 8.00am which junior players can attend. There will be poster signings and chance to mingle with the players and there will be a draw for two family passes for Saturday's game against Rockhampton. Women are at 5.30pm and the men at 7.30pm.
Both Rockhampton teams have struggled this season and both are in the race to secure a playoff position. One of those teams in the race is the TripBookee Pirates. Both sit just outside the top eight on the same win/loss. The Rocky Cyclones team boasts Opal and WNBA centre Abbey Bishop but they have not been able to capture the form which won them the grand final last year. The Pirates big four of Cheslek, Bairstow, Beatson and Rees should give Bishop plenty to think about. The Pirates point guard Sidney Parson is still doubtful with a knee problem so Maddy Willey, Charlie Keimann, Telesia Manumaleuga and Kellie Page will need to run the team by committee in her absence. Rocky are used to seeing their teams in the finals so both their teams will be desperate for the win this weekend against the Pirates.
The WCMG Pirates have managed to secure 5th spot on the ladder through all their injury problems. Daniel Kickert was instrumental in helping the Pirates climb the ladder as an injury waiver for Brendan Teys. "Kicks" is off to China with the NBL AllStars before the Boomers prepare for the FIBA Asia Cup through August and will be unavailable for the QBL finals. Live wire guard, 2015 QBL MVP, 2016 SEABL MVP and fellow Brisbane Bullet, Jeremy Kendle will fill the spot vacated by "Kicks" and has been cleared to play for this Saturday's game against the Rockets.
If you can not make it to the games you can watch on the following links :
Round 10: Women’s – 1st July @ 5:30pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzqpRSkgEHw
Round 10: Men’s – 1st July @ 7:30pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkGXwbAuaWI