Basketball: Development trust aiming to raise $100,000

The plan to keep basketball afloat in Otago is gathering momentum following the formation of a trust earlier this week.

Nine members of the basketball community have signed up as trustees of an amended Basketball Otago Development Trust.

The group hopes to raise $100,000 to prevent Basketball Otago from liquidating, and some high-profile sportspeople have swung in behind the cause.

Former BBO director of development and Nuggets player-coach Mark Dickel has used his connections to help secure a signed basketball singlet from New Zealand NBA star Steven Adams.

Dual basketball and cricket international Suzie Bates has pledged a signed cricket top and will use her network to promote the cause.

Former Tall Black and Nuggets player Hayden Allen has also offered a signed Breakers singlet.

Former BBO board member Angela Ruske said the initial fundraising focus will be on a nationwide raffle of Adams' singlet. The plan is to send the winner to United States to watch Adams in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While planning is still in its very early stages, there is also a sense of urgency. BBO will hold a special meeting on December 16 to ratify the appointment of a liquidator.

The Basketball Otago Development Trust is an existing trust set up previously to promote the development of basketball in the region in conjunction with, but independent of, BBO.

Lawyer Steve Rodgers is amending the trust deed to reflect the new focus.

The trustees come from a variety of business and professional background. Most have some link to basketball either as former or present players, coaches, referees or managers.

Hanson Rental Vehicles business owner Jarrod Hanson is one of the new trustees. He was willing to get behind the cause despite being one of the many creditors still owed money by BBO.

Other trustees are Karl Andrews, Nathan Buchanan, Theresa Johnson, Chris Roy, Mike Simpson, Suzanne Te Au and Liane Topham-Kindley.

''Karl Andrews is definitely a prize asset because he has a business and accounting background and has a passion for basketball,'' Ruske said.

''He has young children and he has given up hours and hours of unpaid time to basketball Otago over the last three or four years.

''I think basketball is really spoiled ... because the people we have put in a lot of hours and have a lot of passion. A lot of them are passionate about trying to pay back those creditors and put basketball in a positive light.''

Anyone interested in supporting the trust can email Ruske on keepbasketballinotago @gmail.com

• The Waikato Pistons have followed the Nuggets and withdrawn from the 2015 National Basketball League.

The Pistons had pulled out for a second time in four seasons due to financial considerations, the Waikato Times reported.

It will leave just eight teams in the competition.

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