NEW signing Kris Blicavs will have his first hit-out with the Ballarat Miners against a Chinese youth team in an exhibition game tonight.
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The Ballarat Holden Miners meet Dongguan Leopards at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre their first serious court time of the pre-season.
Dongguan plays at Guangdong in the south division of the Chinese Basketball Association. Blicavs will line up alongside a group of emerging Ballarat youngsters looking to make their mark ahead of a new South East Australian Basketball League season in the new year.
They include the SEABL-experienced Anthony Fisher, and Sean Massey, Ash Constable and Jack Saunders.
Miners head coach Guy Molloy is enthusiastic about the opportunity.
“Exposure to international basketball is highly valuable.
“It will be great for our players to experience different styles and ways of playing basketball,” he said.
“I have high expectations for Anthony Fisher, and it will be an important game for guys like Sean Massey, Ash Constable and Jack Saunders.”
“Our guys have been working hard in training for the past month. This is a good forum to put things into practice,” Molloy said.
Blicavs has been one of three key signings by the Miners as they look to replace Dan Joyce, Jared Scoines, Ryan Barnes, Cam McCallum, Tim Coenraad and United States import Reggie Larry.
They have aslo secured Chris Smith from Mt Gambier Pioneers and Australian-based American Matt Hanson from Bundaberg Bulls in the Queensland Basketball League.
Blicavs, who has been training with the Miners’ development squad, has been picked up from Diamond Valley in the Big V Youth League.
The game begins at 6pm.
david.brehaut@thecourier.com.au