Miners off to China

GMHBA Ballarat Miners Craig Moller and Sam Short on Monday boarded a plane to China with Melbourne United to play in two exhibition matches.

Both Moller and Short singed with Melbourne in April for the 2017/18 National Basketball League season. The trip to China is a part of Melbourne’s preseason with most contracted players including Chris Goulding, Tai Wesley and Majok Majok all travelling with the team under new Head Coach Dean Vickerman.

Melbourne United will arrive in China Monday afternoon and have their first training session on Tuesday before playing their first game against Jiangsu Dragons on Wednesday night in Nanjing. Thursday will be another training day before Friday night’s game in Yancheng City before flying home Saturday.

Moller and Short will miss Saturday night’s SEABL game against the Melbourne Tigers at MSAC but there is a chance they will be available for some minutes on Sunday at the MARS MINERDOME against Kilsyth with their flight due to arrive in at approximately 9am Sunday morning.

Senior Elite Teams – Miners Chair Simon Walshe said “Although it’s disappointing for the Miners to lose Craig and Sam for some games, it is a fantastic opportunity for them and we will support them all the way.”

The Miners coaching staff and committee have had discussions on how best to cover the absence of Moller and Short. Walshe commenting “This is a very important time of the year, we will need to do what is best for all our athletes and our season”.

Meanwhile Joy Burke has returned to the USA for a close friend’s wedding where she is a bridesmaid. Ballarat Skoda Rush Head Coach David Flint said “Joy informed us early this year when she was asked to be a bridesmaid and we fully supported her decision to return for the weekend.”

Both the GMHBA Ballarat Miners and Ballarat Skoda Rush play a double header this weekend.

Saturday:

Skoda Ballarat Rush vs Melbourne Tigers @ MSAC 5:30pm

GMHBA Ballarat Miners vs Melbourne Tigers @ MSAC 7:30pm

Sunday:

Skoda Ballarat Rush vs Kilsyth Cobras @ MARS MINERDOME 12:00noon

GMHBA Ballarat Miners vs Kilsyth Cobras @ MARS MINERDOME 2:00pm

For more information on the GMHBA Ballarat Miners, Ballarat Skoda Rush or McDonalds Youth League teams please contact Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas via 5330 7604 or Melissa.Thomas@ballaratbasketball.com