Today marks the launch of the 2009 Big V season and with it comes some positive moves forward for the league.

From here-on-in, the elite division of the Big V will be known as the State Championship, with the re-establishment of the state title poised to instil prestige, honour and pride into the competition, revisiting the days of the Albert Park Basketball Stadium and the VBA State Championship.

Big V General Manger Brad Noonan said it was an historic day for the league.

“As well as the rebranding of our top division, we have commissioned two perpetual shields to be struck in the honour of basketball legends Andrew Gaze and Michelle Timms,” Noonan said.

“From 2009 onwards, the players in the State Championship will be battling it out for the Andrew Gaze and Michelle Timms perpetual shields.”

Noonan said as the officially endorsed basketball competition in Victoria, renewing the battle for the State Championship was crucial for the league and the sport.

“And adding the names of Andrew and Michelle to the trophies will give the players more incentive to take out the titles and add prestige to the title well into the future,” he added.

The basketball greats were on hand at the season launch, held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, for the announcement.

Gaze and Timms said they were both honoured to be recognised is such an esteemed way.

“To give my name to the state title is an absolute honour,” Former NBL Melbourne Tiger and Boomers’ player Gaze said at the launch.

“And to be linked back to the days of the Albert Park Stadium is a big tribute.”

This Big V season will see 93 teams playing in 11 divisions of competition in Australia’s largest senior competition with approximately 2000 athletes will take to the floor throughout the state.

This includes seven men's and seven women's teams competing for the State Championship in our highest level of competition.

Timms agreed with Gaze’s sentiments as they recalled sitting courtside at Albert Park Basketball Stadium Court One.

“To give our names to the State Championship is just such an honour,” Timms said.

Basketball Australia Executive Officer Scott Derwin said a strong state-based competition was important for the longevity of basketball in Australia.

“It’s a great day for basketball – we have two Melbourne-based teams playing off in game four of the NBL series tonight and what better day to have the launch of the State Championship than today,” Derwin said at the launch.

“And to have names such as Andrew and Michelle linked with the Big V adds strength and prestige to the league.”

 

 

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Laura Banks  | Media Manager
Direct  +61 9927 6608 | Mobile 0400 856 343   
Email media@bigv.com.au