Basketball New Zealand

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Former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank (Photosport)

Former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank scored six points as his BBC Monthey team took the lead against SAV Vacallo in their Swiss Ligue Nationale de Basket quarterfinal series after an 82-74 win in game three on Sunday.

Monthey lead the series 2-1, with a chance to advance to a best-of-five semifinal match-up against top-seed Benetton Fribourg Olympic, starting April 23, in game four on Thursday morning (NZ time). Game five is Sunday morning.

If Monthey advance to the semifinal series, which would not finish until May 10 if it goes five games, Polyblank would be questionable to make an appearance for the Century City Wellington Saints in the NBL. Players must play five regular season games to be eligible for the NBL Playoffs.

In Turkey, Tall Black Craig Bradshaw had five points (1/2 FG, 1/3 3pt, 0/2 FT), two rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes as his Efes Pilsen team defeated Mersin Buyuksehir Bld 78-76 in round 28 of the Turkish Basketball League to go top of the standings.

Mark Dickel’s Mutlu Aku Selcuk University play their round 28 game on Thursday morning (NZ time).

In Australia, the Queensland Basketball League tips-off this weekend, with two New Zealanders – Zane Meehl and Lance Baker – involved in the men’s competition.

Baker, a former NZ Breakers development player and NBL player with the Harbour Heat and Waikato Pistons, will play for the Gold Coast Goannas and Meehl, son of former Tall Black Warrick Meehl, will team with the Maroochydore Clippers. With the Clippers women’s team is Cantabrian Shannon Proffit.

Meanwhile, Adrienne Gilbert had five points (1/3 FG, 3/4 FT), eight assists, a rebound and a steal in 30 minutes in the Bankstown Bruins 97-42 win over the Maitland Mustangs in round five of the Waratah League at the weekend. The Lady Bruins remain unbeaten at 3-0.

Kiwi Gemma Kerr recorded 14 points (5/10 FG, 2/3 3pt, 2/3 FT), five assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block in 30 minutes in the Kilsyth Lady Cobras 105-68 win over the Albury Wadonga Lady Bandits in round seven of the SEABL on Saturday. The win moved the Cobras into the top-four.

Former Tall Fern Julie Ofsofski missed her Frankston Lady Blues winless three-game road trip to Tasmania in the SEABL.

Another former Tall Fern, Jess Spinner, had 11 points (3/6 FG, 2/3 3pt, 3/4 FT), two rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes in her Wanneroo Wolves 76-62 loss to Perry Lakes Hawks in round three of the Western Australia State Basketball League. The Wolves are eighth at 1-2 after three rounds.