The Breakers have done it - they have achieved what they set out to do this season, become only the second team in ANBL history to win three titles in a row.
Not only did they achieve it, they achieved it in some style, shutting out the Perth Wildcats 2-0 in the Grand Finals series, something they failed to do in their previous two series. It may not have been pretty in The Jungle but when you're playing one of the NBL's best sides on their own turf, getting a win there on a big occasion is no mean feat.
For outgoing power forward, Dillon Boucher, one of the club's foundation players, it was the most fitting way to draw the curtain on a successful career. Media commitments now beckon for the highly popular Tall Black as he leaves the club - and arguably New Zealand basketball - in the best shape of its life; a club teeming with outstanding young local talent like Josh Bloxham, Tai Webster and Reuben Te Rangi.
Even with longtime head coach Andrej Lemanis set for the high-profile role of coach of the Australian Boomers, the club is in very, very good hands and has a very strong foundation to build on - a succession plan is clearly in place at the club even with its coach - 1st assistant, Dean Vickerman is set to take over the role should Lemanis answer the call from the Basketball Australia.
It is a testament to the superb management and philosophy of owners, Paul & Liz Blackwell. The Albany Pak N Save owners applied an ethos not dissimilar to the Crusaders' or many other highly successful sporting organizations around the world like Manchester United & Barcelona. At the same time, they have shunned the limelight, letting the coach and players do the talking; here is a great article about the Blackwells from 2009 - http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/2887501/NZ-Breakers-owner-about-making-a-difference.
However, critics might highlight the fact that the ANBL appears to be a troubled league, even a league in decline - it originally had 10 clubs at inception in 1979 but that number has fluctuated with the count possibly down to 7 for 2013 if the Townsville Crocs do actually fold.
Basketball as a sport has generally struggled for respectability and attention in this part of the world especially compared to the football codes and compared to the world's other basketball leagues, Australia's definitely pales in comparison when it comes to the standard of play.
Even so, winning a title three times in any competition is a difficult task - winning three times in a row almost never happens. Very few teams win a title three years in a row - Manchester United have done it twice and Lyon and Rosenberg have gone on very long championship winning streaks in their history. In basketball, the fabled Chicago Bulls (twice) and LA Lakers sides have achieved the three-peat and long gone into NBA folklore.
For the scope of their competition, this NZ Breakers side are full of rock stars and kings that deserve to be written into NBL and New Zealand sporting folklore for their achievements.
So savour the achievements now and let's aim for four-in-a-row. With most of this side intact for next season, the odds are actually rather favourable.
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