Week 5 Men's SBL Preview

THE Joondalup Wolves are the defending Men's SBL Champions and coach Ben Ettridge has taken note that the Perry Lakes Hawks are throwing everything at winning the 2016 title setting up a tantalising Week 5 match up on Saturday night.

The Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves dominated the 2015 SBL season on the way to winning the club's third Men's Championship.

They have again started 2016 well with a 3-1 record with wins over the South West Slammers, Rockingham Flames and Perth Redbacks in between a loss to the Geraldton Buccaneers.

The Hawks, meanwhile, might be without import guard Bryton Hobbs with a fractured wrist at present but coach Charles Nix has plenty of talent still at his disposal including Brian Carlwell, Matthew Sellers, Ben Purser, Ben Dixon, Josh Garlepp, Jordan Hickert, Ryan Smith and Rob Cassir.

Perry Lakes has won three of its first five games of the season having split last weekend with a win over the East Perth Eagles but losing in overtime to the Stirling Senators.

That all points to what should be a terrific contest on Saturday night and two-time Championship winning coach Ettridge is fully aware that the Hawks will want to make a statement against the defending champions.

"We face a Hawks team that has a championship as their No. 1 objective. Coach Nix has come out and said it's championship or bust, and you can’t really blame him," Ettridge said.

"They have gone all out in the import department, getting Brian Carlwell out of retirement, signing another import big, and looks like they will retain him once Hobbs gets back. Everything they are doing is aimed at winning a championship. The title is definitely theirs to compete for this season."

That contest is far from the only one to look forward to in Week 5 of the 2016 season which starts on Friday night with the Lakeside Lightning (2-3) hosting the East Perth Eagles (1-4) at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

Then also on Saturday night, the Stirling Senators (4-2) face the Perth Redbacks (2-3), the South West Slammers (3-2) host the Cockburn Cougars (5-1), the Goldfields Giants (4-2) take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (0-6) and the Geraldton Buccaneers (3-3) battle the Rockingham Flames (4-2).

The Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants host the Eastern Suns at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium on Saturday with Goldfields coming off a weekend on the road where they lost to the Slammers but beat the Magic.

They now host the winless Suns but coach Michael Haney is fully aware that they can't take them lightly especially considering the points they have proven they can put on the board so far in 2016.

The Eastern Suns might have lost their opening six games, but in doing so they have scored 112, 109, 117, 102, 117 and 119 points so there will be no complacency coming from the Giants or Haney.

"The Suns are a team that will always be dangerous. Their style is exciting and they play with great intensity by their young squad," Haney said.

"I am excited for the challenge and for the local fans to experience it in person."

The Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames will look to continue building some momentum from last Saturday's 113-85 win over the Lakeside Lightning where coach Mark Utley had both Cooper and Taylor Land available for the first time this season, and Chudier Pal continued to show why he is such an imposing signing.

However, it won't be easy up against the Buccs at Active West Stadium. Especially with Geraldton desperate to hit back hard at home following losing both on the road last weekend to the Cougars and Tigers.

"This week we travel to Geraldton to take on a quality team," Utley said.

"They are big inside and that battle will be a focus for us. It will be good to get away as a team and challenge ourselves against a good team."

WEEK 5 MEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Lakeside Lightning v Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles, Lakeside Recreation Centre 8.30pm

SATURDAY
Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants v Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 7.30pm
S & K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers v Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames, Active West Stadium 7.30pm
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves v Perry Lakes Hawks, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 8pm
Bethanie Stirling Senators v Texture WA Perth Redbacks, Warwick Stadium 8pm
Print Sync South West Slammers v Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars, Eaton Recreation Centre 8pm
Mandurah Magic v Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Sebpix Photography




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