Spoils of War-riors

The Pakenham Warriors’ new Big V men’s coach Brent Russell will lead the team into an exciting new era. The club is reaching out to local businesses in a bid to enhance their community involvement. 162250 Picture: RUSSELL BENNETT

By Russell Bennett

The popularity of basketball is exploding, particularly at the junior levels, and Pakenham is part of the growth corridor right at the heart of it all.
The Pakenham Warriors have more than 25 sides across the junior and senior ranks that represent the local area at the state level and more than 5000 total members within the association.
The club is searching for local businesses to get behind its members and offer sponsorship backing to keep it financially viable.
Such is the growth of the sport in the local area, the Cardinia Life courts are packed with games most weekends – including senior men’s, and youth men’s and women’s teams throughout the Big V basketball season.
The Warriors are reaching out to local businesses in an aim to connect them with their members, and to encourage those members to support those businesses and continue to build a strong sense of community involvement.
While many local football and cricket clubs receive corporate support, the Warriors are on the lookout for some of their own.
Tristan Blacka, who oversees the Warriors’ sponsorship department, said Pakenham had aspirations of being a local basketball powerhouse with its Big V teams aiming for sustained success in the statewide competition. There’s no shying away from it – they’ve got championship goals.
An opportunity exists for companies to network and further develop relationships in the local area through courtside logo recognition at home games which attract hundreds of fans at a time; corporate listings in the Warriors’ Big V game day programs which are provided to both home and away teams, supporters and spectators; and website and social media exposure to thousands of local families.
A wide range of sponsorship packages are available with the funds going towards the development of grassroots basketball, local coaching development programs, local mentoring programs, and providing quality equipment to team managers and coaches.
Anyone interested in getting involved should email sponsorship@pakenhambasketball.com.au.