THE National Basketball League (NBL)1 South has announced the expansion of its competition, with two new sides joining the fight for a championship in season 2022. The Casey Cavaliers and the Keilor Thunder are set to become the first sides added to the competition since its 2019 inception. Two clubs with strong histories linked with success, Casey and Keilor should prove competitive in the step up to a tougher competition.

The Casey Cavaliers have found themselves on a massive rise in recent times, becoming one of the strongest basketball clubs in the region. From their junior program to senior representation, the Cavaliers have excelled at any situation they have put themselves in. The organisation was awarded the 2020 Basketball Victoria Junior Program of the year, which is a clear indicator of the high standard to which this club holds itself.

Heading into the NBL1 from the Big V competition, there will be a jump in competition. During the 2021 season, the Cavaliers were fourth in both the men’s and women’s competition, before the season was unfortunately cancelled due to Victorian restrictions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cavaliers General Manager Tammy Bower explained the club’s excitement to compete in such a quality association.

“We are excited to join NBL1 South as it’s something we’ve been striving towards across the last few years,” Bower said.

“For us, being in NBL1 South is the reward for our hard work. I feel we’ve put in a lot of effort in to being the best in everything we do and joining NBL1 South is an amazing outcome for everyone involved in our association.

“Casey Stadium is a fantastic venue and we want to show the public that they’ll have a great experience when they see our teams play.

“We don’t just want to be in NBL1 South, we want to be great in NBL1 South.”

The Kelior Thunder have just as high a reputation as the team discussed above, and will be making history with their entry to the competition. The Thunder will become the first team to enter the league out of Melbourne’s western suburbs, and will likely become the destination club for players West of the city looking to make the jump to the next level. Both their men’s and women’s sides were on top of the ladder at the time of the season’s cancellation, and they look a ready-made side heading into the 2022 NBL season.

Thunder General Manager Paul Rovis said the move up helps the club develop their players through to the top level.

“Keilor Basketball Association are thrilled at being accepted into NBL1 for seasons 2022 and 2023,” Rovis said.

“As the pre-eminent association in Melbourne’s West, our objective is to provide the best opportunities to develop and nurture basketballers in our broader community.

“Being a part of NBL1 provides a pathway for our junior stars to aspire to and a prominent stage for our current stars to shine.”

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Image credit: Casey Cavaliers via Facebook