Wellington Looking Saintly
Tagged in: NBL
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They would probably smack you upside-the-head if you called them old, so we’ll go with experience-rich.
The Century City Wellington Saints easily have the most experienced roster in games played of the 10 teams contesting the 2008 Dominion Finance NBL – their 1100 combined games in the NBL almost 200 more than the next highest, the Waikato Pistons, and almost three times more than the least experienced, the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets.
It is a situation most first-year NBL coaches would envy and one American Doug Marty finds himself presiding over in the nation’s capital.
Anchoring the bench will be former Tall Blacks Terrence Lewis and Brendon Pongia - between them a combined 492 NBL games, which will be invaluable – while starting shooting guard Troy McLean provides 182 games experience.
With the addition of point guard Luke Martin from the Waikato Pistons, Matt Te Huna from the Manawatu Jets, Arthur Trousdell from the Easy LPG Bay Hawks and American import Marquis Webb to their veteran core, the Saints have compiled a scary roster full of ex-internationals.
“And I hope it’s scary for the other teams,” Marty said.
Wellington have not and will not be without their disruptions in 2008.
Returning American centre Nick Horvath arrived on Monday and will be available for the first five games before taking time off to wed his Kiwi partner. The Saints hope he will obtain his New Zealand citizenship and be able to return for the second half of the season as an unrestricted player.
Martin arrives Wednesday from Australia, Tall Black contender Brendon Polyblank’s arrival will depend on his Swiss club team’s playoff progress, while Mike Tompson has been ruled out for at least the next two months, due to have surgery on an injured knee, but Marty hoped he would return this season.
Wellington will also be looking to add a second import once Horvath departs.
“I like the roster. At the moment it’s a work in progress,” Marty said.
“We still have a long way to go to play for the title . . . chemistry, it’s going to take a while for the players to gel.
“We’ll try to cover as much ground as we can and do as much as we can. But there’s no question that they’re basketball players and they’ll pick it up quickly.
“We just have to roll with it and just try to get everyone up to speed as quick as possible. You always want to be near full-strength at the beginning. I’m happy to have those guys so I’m not going to complain about that but it’s just, ‘I wish we could have a couple weeks longer’,” Marty said.
Marty’s experience dealing with the regular comings-and-goings of the NBA Development League during his time with the Charleston Lowgators could prove beneficial.
The Saints have had their losses too, with Adrian Majstrovich signing with the Youthtown Auckland Stars, Damian Ekenasio flying to the Easy LPG Bay Hawks and Alex Wastney joining Devon Dynamos Taranaki.
But the additions have covered the subtractions.
Webb, a Rutgers grad, offers the Saints an athletic swingman, capable of handling a scoring load, while Trousdell will offer them another big body, crucial with Tompson out and Horvath pending unavailability. Hugh Quinlivan has also been added, while Corey Vessey and Randall Bishop, likely to start at the point in the season-opener on Thursday, return.
“Our strength will be in our versatility, having guys to play several positions and be able to do things on both the inside and outside.
“But everything’s theory right now. Once we get up against these teams we’ll see where our strengths are . . . I don’t know the league that well so I don’t know if we’re good enough.”
Marty will be assisted by Fotis Liolis, who played for Hutt Valley for four seasons and two seasons with the Saints in the 1990s.
Century City Wellington Saints
2007: Missed playoffs, sixth (9-9) in regular season
Coach: Doug Marty
Assistant: Fotis Liolis
Imports: Marquis Webb (USA), Nick Horvath (USA)
Returning: Brendon Pongia, Troy McLean, Brendon Polyblank, Terence Lewis, Horvath, Corey Vessey, Mike Tompson
Additions: Webb, Luke Martin (Waikato), Hugh Quinlivan, Randall Bishop, Arthur Trousdell (Bay Hawks), Matt Te Huna (Manawatu)
Losses: JD Collins (USA), Bakari Hendrix (USA), Adrian Majstrovich (Auckland), Damian Ekanasio (Bay Hawks), Alex Wastney (Taranaki)
