JackJumpers looking for team functionality at the Blitz

Its been almost six months since the JackJumpers lifted the NBL trophy in Melbourne. After being stuck with team scrimmages following cancelled pre-season matches against the Adelaide 36ers, the Tasmania JackJumpers will finally hit the floor tonight at the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast.

The JackJumpers play the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday night, before backing up on Monday night against the Adelaide 36ers. With JackJumpers assistant coach Mark Radford excited for the challenges that the NBL champs face in the pre season.

“Going to the Blitz is always a nervous time for every team, new players, new systems, you makes some adjustments from last season and you just don’t really know until you confront your opponents up there how much progress you’ve made in the off season,” Mark Radford said, as the team departed from Hobart Airport.

“I think we’re just really focused on our team functions, how our bench functions, how we function on the floor as a group on stoppages of play. Just the connectivity that we feel has been really good for us over, you know three years, we want to continue that.

“So you know we’re really looking forward to getting to the Blitz. We’ve talked about a couple of areas wed really like to foçus on and not actually related to game results because it still is the early part of the pre season for us, obviously with the Singapore trip,” he said.

That Singapore trip Radford is referring to is to take part in the FIBA Intercontential Cup next weekend. An annual tournament where the JackJumpers, as winners of the NBL, will join five other international club teams who have won their respective leagues. The JackJumpers then fly direct from Singapore to Perth prepare for HoopsFest, and season opener of the NBL season on September 19.

Despite being a very unique way to prepare for NBL25, for JackJumpers forward Fabian Krslovic its finally an opportunity to play against some new competition.

“Its really exciting…we’ve been playing against each other, beating each other up fair bit over the last month or so. So to be able to test ourselves against the another team will be huge,” JackJumpers forward Fab Krslovic said.

The Blitz will also see the debut of new import Craig Sword, and new roster players Gorjon Gak and Reuben Te Rangi, both from the South East Melbourne Phoenix. Joining them will be three new development players Brody Nunn, Nichnolas Stoddart and Archie Woodhill.

JackJumpers NBL Blitz Schedule

Tasmania JackJumpers vs Brisbane Bullets
5pm Saturday 7 September
Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium

Tasmania JackJumpers vs Adelaide 36ers
5pm Monday 9 September
Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre