Sharks basketball, SBS Bank support, and the return of 3x3
“[SBS Bank] is a classic example of the kind of support we are fortunate to get."
Heads up Southland basketball fans, there's a chance this month to get your fix.
For 14 years now the Southland Sharks basketball organisation has been an important element in the region’s entertainment scene.
Yes, you read that right.
Sharks officials admit themselves they are just as much an entertainment outlet, as it is a sports organisation. They provide the public with a popular night out throughout the National Basketball League season.
And again, this year there’s an added bonus in Invercargill in between NBL seasons.
Southlanders will get to watch the SBS Bank-sponsored Sharks in action when the national 3x3 Cup is held at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill from October 25 through to October 28.
“We’ve been very fortunate that this gives us a second bite of the cherry to get our basketball fix,” Sharks director Nick Jeffery said.
Jeffery said they will never take for granted the support the community provided the organisation in helping it put together a team to play in the NBL, as well as the 3x3 Cup.
That includes support from both community funders and sponsors. SBS Bank is very much a key part of that.
SBS Bank has been a long-time sponsor of the Sharks and stepped up its support during some uncertain times a couple of years back.
It was a time when there was uncertainty around crowd numbers with Covid still a discussion topic, and the Southern Institute of Technology had also pulled out as a long-time major Sharks sponsor.
SBS Bank increased its support and has since again extended that partnership with the Sharks.
SBS Group CEO Mark McLean said it was an easy decision for his team given they know the quality and calibre of the Sharks franchise well.
“As a local Southland bank, we’re committed to providing value back to both our Members and our communities – we have always believed in stepping up to get involved where we can, and with the Southland Sharks it’s Southland supporting Southland,” McLean said.
Jeffrey said: “[SBS Bank] is a classic example of the kind of support we are fortunate to get. We would like to think we earn it.
“I think the really nice thing is it’s a perfect fit. SBS is all about looking after Southlanders and the fact we are trying to do the same by winning some basketball games is perfect.”
That next chance to win games will come at the 3x3 tournament and the Sharks have set a pretty high bar in that department.
On top of the Sharks entry in the 3x3 Cup this month, the Southland Storm will again line up in the women’s competition.
This month’s 3x3 Cup will be the third event held in Invercargill and the Sharks have made the most of the home-court advantage in the first two winning both of them.
Alonzo Burton and Tom Cowie return from last year’s title-winning team and have been joined by Ben Hall and Ethan Rusbatch.
The Southland Storm women’s team is yet to be publicly announced.
Jeffery was excited by the prospect of top-level basketball returning to Invercargill this month.
To add to the spectacle a Trans-Tasman 3x3 series will also be held at ILT Stadium Southland at the same time.
All 16 games of this Trans-Tasman series will be shown live on Sky Sport.
“We feel very lucky that the Stadium and Basketball New Zealand work so closely together to have something like this on our back door.
This article has been published in partnership with SBS Bank.