Boomers Announce Triple Crown In Latrobe Valley

July 3, 2018 | Melbourne Boomers news

A basketball bonanza will blaze into Gippsland when the Deakin Melbourne Boomers play three games over four days against Bendigo Spirit in September for the region’s inaugural WNBL Triple Crown tournament.

Melbourne’s WNBL team made the announcement this week in the middle of conducting clinics for more than 300 girls aged 8-to-14 across the region, attending venues in Maffra, Moe, Newborough and Drouin.

To see the announcement – click HERE.

To be known as the Triple Crown, game one will be held at the Traralgon Sports Stadium at 7pm on Thursday 13 September, game two at the Maffra Basketball Stadium from 7pm the following night with Warragul Leisure Centre hosting the final showdown on Sunday 16 September at 1pm.

  

The four-day tour will also feature a host of community activities, including school visits, junior clinics, Aussie hoops sessions, open trainings, fan signings and photo opportunities across Baw Baw, Latrobe City and Wellington shires.

“Gippsland is an incredibly rich region for all sports, in particular basketball and we can’t wait to help promote participation across the community via our player, coach and management visits over the next three years,” Mr Nelson said.

“Chelsea D’Angelo is a world-class junior from Traralgon and has just signed with us for the next four years, Jenna O’Hea is one of Australia’s very best players and also comes from Traralgon, Jaz Shelley is from Moe and has just joined us while many budding young players continue to develop their skills across dozens of basketball clubs throughout the Latrobe Valley.

“Plus we have just signed 15-year old Jade Melbourne, another outstanding young player from Traralgon.

“We also plan on adding other rising Gippsland-based players to our Boomers team for the Triple Crown event and give them a taste of life with a WNBL club.”

The three-year partnership with the Boomers has been forged as part of the Victorian Government’s $85 million sports and community package.

Tickets to each game will soon go on sale. To join the Deakin Melbourne Boomers as a member for the coming 2018/19 WNBL season, click HERE.

Quotes attributable to LVA CEO Karen Cain

“This tournament is a tremendous example of collaboration between our local shires to bring shared benefit to our region at large. We’re excited to help facilitate this fantastic event with the Boomers and ensure accessibility for our communities right across greater Gippsland.” 

Quotes attributable to Wellington Shire Mayor Carolyn Crossley

“Hosting a part of the Triple Crown is a wonderful opportunity for Wellington residents to see top level women’s basketball in their own backyards. Basketball is a very popular sport in Wellington for men, women and children and having the opportunity to see female sport at an elite level will be inspiring for our communities.”

Quotes attributable to Latrobe City Shire Mayor Darrell White
“We are excited to be hosting games within Latrobe City as part of the Melbourne Boomers ‘Triple Crown’. This series is a welcome addition to our ever-expanding calendar of world-class sporting events, and builds upon the momentum created by last year’s NBL Blitz in Traralgon. We’re proud to see some of our local stars like Chelsea D’Angelo, Jade Melbourne, Jaz Shelley and Jenna O’Hea thriving in the big time with the Boomers, and can’t wait to see them perform on home soil once again.”

 Quotes attributable to Baw Baw Shire West Ward Councillor Jessica O’Donnell

“Baw Baw is extremely excited to work in partnership with our neighbouring councils to host a stage of the Triple Crown event. We can’t wait for the Boomers and Spirit to showcase their skills to our community. Basketball is the highest participatory sport in Baw Baw, so for council to provide the opportunity for our community to engage directly with elite level competition is something we are thrilled about and looking forward to continuing into the future.”