After a recent trip to Singapore where the Tigers dominated their Asian opponents, including an injury depleted Singapore Slingers side, the Tigers got back into the pre-season with a more competitive match against Cairns in Traralgon last Thursday.

Whilst the Tigers were able to run away with a comfortable 100-76 victory, coach Al Westover was particularly pleased that the team was able to win the match whilst allowing plenty of game time for some of the lesser known players and new recruits, Nathan Crosswell and Axel Dench.

“We were missing about four or five guys” Westover said, “It’s always good to win that first game, even if it is a practice game. It would be nice to have the whole group together to play though. The big bonus was that some of our lesser players, David Donaldson and Liam Norton got the opportunity and showed that they were up to it”.

Westover also expressed the toughness of the trip to Singapore and the home court advantage that the Singapore Slingers will have, however, he also noted that the travel might also get to them, having to travel quite a distance for their away matches.

“It’s a tough trip, you get there and you’re in a different part of the world, it’s hot and humid, I think they’ll have a real home court advantage, but I think the travel will get to them a lot and it will definitely affect the teams going there”.

Reigning NBL MVP Chris Anstey’s knee remains a minor concern in the Tigers preparation, having missed the majority of the pre-season. However, Westover and his team are hopeful that he will be ok to play a couple of games in the upcoming NBL Blitz and then be right to play in the Tigers first match of the regular season on September 23 against the Cairns Taipans at ‘The Cage’. Anstey suffered the injury to his knee in the recent international series between Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s going to take him a while before the knee’s 100% and before he’s back to full fitness, he’s behind but hopefully he’ll be ready to start the season and build on it from there”.