Bugs slam dunked: Beveridge
Perth Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge says his playing group is recovering from illness and will be 100 per cent healthy for Friday night's NBL championship series opener against Wollongong at Challenge Stadium.
The Wildcats were hampered by a regulation "bug" during their semifinal series sweep of Gold Coast Blaze last week and were granted some time off over the long weekend.
But they are back on court and ready to go full steam ahead on Friday in a game that will set the tone for the three-game season-deciding series.
"We've had a bug running through the team for the past week," Beveridge told Sport FM.
"Kevin Lisch was actually very sick against Gold Coast and the way he came out and played the game was fantastic.
"Brad Robbins has been crook and Shawn Redhage, now their bug's got me. I'm nearly over it but we'll be all good to go on Friday night."
Kevin Lisch and Shaun Redhage at the new basketball centre.
The Wildcats went hard at practice for the second consecutive day at the new WA Basketball Centre this morning, but will lighten the load tomorrow in preparation for Friday's game.
Club owner Jack Bendat visited yesterday's practice session and this morning NBA championship winner and WA basketball legend Luc Longley watched from the stands as Beveridge put his team through their paces.
Longley has acted as a part-time consultant for Beveridge and starting Wildcats centre Luke Schenscher this season, as well as assisting shadow squad member Sam Harris at practice.
"You know why we're going to win the championship? Because we have a young team, they don't know about vices and they know how to play basketball," Bendat told The West Australian.
"We've got a great coach who is very dedicated and we play like a fine violin, it's well tuned."
