Breakers fans breaking out in excitement!

Media Release

Friday 14 June 2013

Breakers fans breaking out in excitement!

Hundreds of young SKYCITY Breakers fans including this rowdy bunch from Cobham School will be at the YMCA Gisborne on Sunday to meet their tall sporting heroes.

Breaking the Ice: An Afternoon with the SKYCITY Breakers, Sunday 16 June from 4pm, will be a chance for kids to see the basketball stars in action, hang with them on court, and listen to live on-the-couch interviews.

Big-time basket ballers coming to Gisborne for three days include crowd favourite CJ Bruton, seven-foot star Alex Pledger, and exciting new recruit Jeremiah Trueman. They have been brought here by Maori health organisation Turanga Health as positive role models for kids especially when it comes to making the right choices around alcohol and drug use.

Cobham School kids say they can’t wait to see Alex Pledger who stands at 216cm making him the tallest New Zealand sportsman. Known as “Chief” to his team mates, Pledger will appear giant-like to these pint-sized fans. Cheeky CJ Bruton - a man unafraid of breaking into song and cracking jokes with everyone around him - will also be a crowd favourite.

The players will be using their unique style, charisma and wisdom on Sunday afternoon to encourage and inspire youngsters to become amazing adults and community champions, says event coordinator Dwayne Tamatea.

“Breaking the Ice is a chance for kids of all ages to see the players up close, play games with them, grab an autograph and share in the positive community vibe the team has always adopted.”

“The SKYCITY Breakers will share their messages around the importance of family, balance, respect, sacrifice and belief in yourself, and they do it in a relaxed hilarious way, all the while teaching kids about basketball and life. SKYCITY Breakers basketballs, singlets and other merchandise is up for grabs.

YMCA Gisborne doors open at 4pm for the 4.30pm-5.30pm event. Organisers advise kids to get there early as hundreds are expected at the family-friendly event. Entry is by gold coin donation.

The SKYCITY Breakers will spend Monday and Tuesday at schools around the district running a basketball skills road show for kids with an interest in sport.

The SKYCITY Breakers are the only New Zealand basketball team in the Australian National Basketball League and this year became three-peat winners of the ANBL trophy. SKYCITY Breakers coaches Dean Vickerman and Judd Flavell are part of the visiting contingent as well as Tall Black Hayden Allen who works with the franchise.

On Monday night, 6pm at the Cosmopolitan Club, Turanga Health is hosting Breaking out the Big Guns: Dinner with the SKYCITY Breakers. The dinner offers guests a unique opportunity to listen to coach Vickerman discuss the SKYCITY Breakers’ recipe for success. Gold and Bronze tickets have sold out. A few Silver tickets remain. Contact Turanga Health (06) 869 0457 for more details.

Cobham School kids jump for joy at the thought of meeting their SKYCITY Breakers basketball heroes at Breaking the Ice: An Afternoon with the SKYCITY Breakers, this Sunday, YMCA Gisborne from 4pm. Image: Lexi Green.

ENDS

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