See the present & future Rollers battle for the Frank Ponta Trophy

The winner of the Frank Ponta Trophy will be decided this weekend when the inaugural National Wheelchair Development League culminates in the Finals Series at the Australian Institute of Sport.

After a successful opening weekend from March 6-7, Round 2 of the National Wheelchair Development League tips off on Friday March 19 followed by the Finals Series on Saturday and Sunday and all spectators are welcome.

With an average winning margin of only six points in Round 1, Round 2 and the Finals Series is sure to involve some thrilling encounters and entry is free for all spectators.

Four teams will take to the court from March 19-21 at the Australian Institute of Sport, putting in their claim for the Frank Ponta Trophy, named after the “father figure” of Australian Paralympic Sport.

The NWDL was established through a partnership between the Australian Paralympic Committee and Basketball Australia to create more game experience for wheelchair basketball players based in Australia after a need was seen for more competitive experience needed for the next generation of Rollers.

The teams contain a mixture of players from Paralympians and Australian U23 representatives through to players with only 1-2 years of NWBL experience.

The four teams are named after some of the biggest names in the history of Australia’s Wheelchair Basketball Men’s team, in this year, the 50^th anniversary of the team’s first appearance at a Paralympic Games.

Teams are named after:

·         John Turich - 1960 Rome Paralympic Games inaugural captain of the Rollers

·         Sandy Blythe - 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games Gold medal co-captain

·         David Gould - 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games Gold medal co-captain

·         Brad Ness - 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games Gold medal captain

A focus of the D-league is to also help in the development of coaches, referees and technical officials.

The plan at this stage is to expand the NWDL each year to include more athletes, coaches and officials.

For the full fixture of Round 2 and the Finals Series click here

In Round 1 each team got up for a win with John Turich Reds and Brad Ness Golds, led by Roller Brett Stibners, claiming three wins apiece and Sandy Blythe Blues and David Gould Whites one win apiece.

Brad Ness Golds 56 def Sandy Blythe Blues 52 [Box Score]
John Turich Reds 59 def David Gould Whites 56 [Box Score]
John Turich Reds def Brad Ness Golds 59-56 [Box Score]
Sandy Blythe Blues 61 def David Gould Whites 60 [Box Score]
Brad Ness Golds 61 def David Gould Whites 51 [Box Score]
John Turich Reds 65 def Sandy Blythe Blues 55 [Box Score]
Brad Ness Golds 57 def Sandy Blythe Blues 48 [Box Score]
David Gould Whites 58 def John Turich Reds 51 [Box Score]