Māori Television is launching a spectacular season of high-energy, high-excitement on-court basketball action when the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers take on the Cairns Taipans at Auckland’s North Shore Events Centre this Thursday September 20 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday September 22 at 1.30 PM).  

The channel has secured the free-to-air broadcast rights to every Thursday night home game of the NZ Breakers – a total of 15 from September 20 to February 7 – as they take on the might of Australia’s National Basketball League in the 2007-2008 season.

Other games from the NBL – regarded as one of the premier leagues in the world – will also feature in the Thursday night slot as well as every Sunday afternoon. The Gold Coast Blaze takes on the Brisbane Bullets this Sunday September 23 at 1.30 PM.

The commentating team include sports broadcasters Dale Husband and Te Arahi Maipi and husband-and-wife basketball veterans Chris and Tania Tupu.

Upcoming games include:

Thursday September 20 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday September 22 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v Cairns Taipans

  Sunday September 23 2007 at 1.30 PM: Gold Coast Blaze v Brisbane Bullets  

Thursday September 27 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday September 29 at 1.30 PM): Townsville Crocs v Sydney Kings

Thursday October 4 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday October 6 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v West Sydney Razorbacks

Sunday October 7 2007 at 1.30 PM: Sydney Kings v Cairns Taipans

Thursday October 11 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday October 13 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v Townsville Crocs

Sunday October 14 2007 at 1.30 PM: Melbourne Tigers v South Dragon

Thursday October 18 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday October 20 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v Adelaide 36ers

Sunday October 21 2007 at 1.30 PM: Brisbane Bullets v Sydney Kings

Thursday October 25 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday October 27 at 1.30 PM): Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers

Sunday October 28 2007 at 1.30 PM: Adelaide 36ers v Gold Coast Blaze

Thursday November 1 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats Saturday October 3 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v Brisbane Bullets

Sunday November 4 2007 at 1.30 PM: Melbourne Tigers v Townsville Crocs

Thursday November 8 2007 at 8.00 PM (repeats November 10 at 1.30 PM): Harvey Norman NZ Breakers v Singapore Slingers

  Bring on the basketball – with Māori Television!