Brydens Sydney Uni Flames will join forces with the Sydney Kings this Sunday December 13th where the teams will play one after another in the last ever professional basketball game to be held at the Qantas Credit Union Arena (previously known as the Sydney Entertainment Centre and proudly known as the Kingdome by Kings supporters) as the Kings part ways with the venue.
The double-header is a special event that has been named the ‘Last Bounce’ and will be used to fittingly farewell the historic basketball venue. The Qantas Credit Union Arena has played host to some great basketball over its 25 year partnership with the Sydney Kings. It was the venue for the Kings’ golden years where they won three consecutive NBL titles from 2003-2005 and made five grand final appearances from 2003-2008. Throughout the 1990s the venue was also used for double-headers where the Kings and Flames would play before and after one another, much like the ‘Last Bounce.’
After Sunday’s game the Kings will play the remainder of their season at the Sydney Olympic Sports Centre as the Qantas Credit Union Arena is being demolished to make way for a new convention centre, but not before the Kingdome is ready for one last hoorah in a night made for basketball enthusiasts.
The Flames started their season in great form, winning 7 of their first 9 matches to be tied for top spot on the WNBL ladder. The team however has hit somewhat of a flat patch in the last few games, dropping 2 out 3, including a surprising 27 point loss to the hands of the Adelaide Lighting last Friday. Despite this, the Flames still sit in a comfortable position at roughly the halfway point of the season with 8 wins, 4 losses and only sitting one game behind league leaders Perth Lynx in second place.
The Flames will be matching up against the Townsville Fire in Sunday night’s spectacle. The Fire are sitting in fourth place and are just one game behind the Flames on the WNBL standings. With the Flames losing 2 out of their last 3 and the Fire coming off a tough 16 point loss to the Bendigo Spirit in their last outing, both teams will be hungry for a victory to springboard the back half of their season into a playoff run. In their last and only meeting of the season the Flames defeated the Fire in Townsville by 3 points in a tight match up.
To add to the already exciting encounter, two of the top three scorers in the league will be doing their best to get the win for their teams. Former Olympian and WNBA player Suzy Batkovic will be leading the Townsville Fire from the centre position. She is leading the league in scoring at 22 points per game, to go along with nearly 8 rebounds a night. Conversely, Flames guard Katie Ebzery is third in the league in scoring at 18 points per game whilst averaging a shade fewer than 5 assists a game. These two alone should ensure an entertaining affair that has all the makings of going down to the wire.
In a tribute to the Sydney Kings’ time at the Qantas Credit Union Arena, the Kings will wear a special ‘old school’ uniform and there will also be a halftime presentation of acknowledgment to past Kings players and coaches.
In a great night of basketball that the whole family can enjoy tickets are selling fast. Don’t miss your chance to see the ‘Last Bounce’ and be a part of one of the more memorable basketball nights in recent history in Sydney.
DETAILS:
Venue – Qantas Credit Union Arena, 35 Harbour Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Date – Sunday, December 13th
Game 1 – Bryden’s Sydney University Flames vs. Townsville Fire at 12:30pm
Game 2 – Sydney Kings vs. Perth Wildcats at 3pm
Function – 5:30pm
Tickets here.
GO FLAMES!
