Basketball: Signed singlet might bring salvation

Steven Adams is better known for swatting away shots than debts but he could have a big role to play in helping Basketball Otago stave off liquidation.

The towering Oklahoma City Thunder centre has agreed to provide a signed singlet to be raffled off to help raise money for the cash-strapped organisation.

Adams' contribution is part of a bold plan to raise $100,000 to keep BBO solvent.

Former board member Angela Ruske has emerged as the leader of a group determined to prevent liquidation.

BBO last week advised its members it could not continue to trade and would hold a special meeting next month to ratify the appointment of a liquidator.

But Ruske is hopeful Adams' singlet will raise a significant amount of money. If the group could sell 30,000 tickets at $5 apiece, it would raise $150,000, enough to wipe out the debt and send the winner to America to pick up the prize, she said.

Former Otago Nuggets player-coach Mark Dickel was drafted in to help liaise with Adams' mentor, Kenny McFadden.

When contacted for comment, Dickel confirmed the deal had been struck. He also raised the possibility of the Canterbury Rams playing a pre-season game in Dunedin to raise funds. Dickel left BBO in August to assume the role of Rams head coach.

''I definitely want everything down there to work,'' he said.

''I love all the people down there, especially Ange and the people in development who really care. The last thing I want to see is that we don't try to help.

''The singlet thing is definitely confirmed.''

Ruske said the first step for the group was to form a trust. About 12 volunteers have offered support and the group will meet BBO lawyer Steve Rodgers and Sport Otago community sports adviser Alan Nicholls on Monday.

''Alan has some quite amazing ideas he wants to present to us and Steve is currently drawing up a trust fund and working on that,'' Ruske said.

''So we are at that stage where we will put some trustees and signatures on that. We hope to get a broad spectrum of the different basketball users.''

The group is hoping to meet the following evening to brainstorm some more fundraising ideas.

The first contributions have already been promised. Ruske said she had received pledges for financial support totalling $2000 and had been overwhelmed by messages of support.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz

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