The Skytrans Cairns Taipans Queensland Cup Basketball Tournament tips of on Wednesday 29 August at the Bendigo Bank Basketball Complex, providing fans with a fascinating pre-season look at the Queensland based teams competing in the upcoming 2007/08 National Basketball League Season.

With last season's Champions the Brisbane Bullets, new kids on the block the Gold Coast Blaze, archrivals the Townsville Crocodiles and the Skytrans Cairns Taipans all competing, the tournament will feature some of the best talent in the National Basketball League.

All teams will be at virtually full strength and with names such as Mackinnon, Bruton, Ere, Cattalini, Mee, Tucker, Abney, Black, Harvey, Melmeth, Rillie and Pepper, Cairns fans will be treated to six full games of exciting basketball action over three days.

According to Skytrans Cairns Taipans head coach Alan Black it doesn’t get much better than the lineups on display.

“Apart from the regular season games, this tournament will be an absolute highlight for Cairns fans," said Black. "There are some of the best players in the National Basketball League on display over the three days. It’s an exciting concept and one that I know the club is looking at staging every year. To have four teams of the caliber of the sides competing in Cairns is just fantastic and more importantly it gives us quality, valuable game time on the court, leading into our opening game of the season on September 20th.”

"I think that Cairns fans are going to see some exciting basketball from all the teams competing and I know that our boys have been working extremely hard in practice and are looking forward to taking that onto the floor over the three days of the tournament."

In the opening games of the Tournament on Wednesday, Townsville will take on Brisbane at 6pm, while Cairns fans will get to see for the first time the newest NBL franchise when the Gold Coast Blaze take on the Skytrans Cairns Taipans at 8pm.

All players will also take part in a free Subway Hoops basketball clinic on the Friday morning during the tournament from 9am to 11am at the venue. Registrations have already been strong and can be made by contacting the Cairns Taipans administration on 07 4030 7555.

Full details of the Qld Cup Basketball Tournament are outlined below:

Wednesday 29th August, 2007:
Game 1 @ 6pm - Townsville vs. Brisbane
Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Tim Boswell, Phil Ahrens

Game 2 @ 8pm - Cairns vs. Gold Coast
Referees: Roger Shiels, Tom Jones, Ben McDonald

Thursday 30th August, 2007:
Game 1 @ 6pm – Gold Coast vs. Townsville
Referees: Roger Shiels, Vaughan Mayberry, Phil Ahrens

Game 2 @ 8pm – Cairns vs. Brisbane
Referees: Tom Jones, Tim Boswell, Ben McDonald

Saturday 1st September, 2007:
Game 1 @ 6pm – Brisbane vs. Gold Coast
Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Tim Boswell, Ben McDonald

Game 2 @ 8pm – Cairns vs. Townsville
Referees: Roger Shiels, Tom Jones, Phil Ahrens

Tournament Tickets

Day Pass: Adult $10, Child $5
3 Day pass: Adult $24, Child $12
Contact: Ticketsplus PH: 1300taipans/40544511 or online @ www.ticketsplus.com.au

Corporate Boxes

Per Day Box: $320 +GST
3 Day Box: $900 +GST
Contact: Jacqui Nolan, Skytrans Cairns Taipans PH: 07 4030 7555