Basketball Ballarat’s senior elite teams administrator Melissa Thomas said along with the preseason game, the Melbourne Boomers would be involved in school visits and community engagement programs planned for the two-day visit in Ballarat. 

Melbourne Boomers head coach Guy Molloy is no stranger to the Minerdome.

Not only is it his team’s fourth preseason game in Ballarat, Molloy is a former coach of the Ballarat Miners in South East Australian Basketball League competition.

“We really enjoy heading to Ballarat each year during the preseason, it’s a strong basketball city with amazing passion for the game and real appreciation for our elite athletes,” Molloy said.

“The whole team looks forward to this game every year. It forms a big part of our preparation for the season ahead.”

Bendigo Spirit head coach Simon Pritchard also valued the early opportunity to test his players’ progression.

“We see this relationship as vital to cement the pathways for young country Victorian basketballers,” he said.

“Young stars like Kara Tessari and Maddy Wild cut their teeth in these programs and have followed the pathway to the WNBL.

“We are hoping to inspire local Ballarat players like Georgia Amoore to be part of the Spirit in the future.”