The Alcohol.Think Again West Coast Waves tip off their 2012/13 WNBL season at home on Saturday October 6 against the Bendigo Spirit at the WA Basketball Centre. The team has an eventful season ahead of them including hosting four-time Olympian, Lauren Jackson, and her team the Canberra Capitals at “The Sandpit” twice during the 2012/13 fixtures.

Alcohol.Think Again West Coast Waves head coach, Kennedy Kereama, said it is great to have one of the sports best players come to Perth in Round 11 and 14. 

“It’s going to be great; I think that’s going to give any young aspiring female basketball players an opportunity to come and see arguably the best female basketball player in the world and I think Australians can be extremely proud of having such a great female role model and someone they can model their game on,” Kereama said about Jackson.

The coach is also excited about starting the WNBL season with two home games and securing a long home stretch around the break in December and January.

“We’ve secured a very favourable draw for the 2012/13 season which is really exciting,” Kereama said. 

“Our first game is against Bendigo and last season we were good enough to beat them, which is great. Then Sydney at home as well; two very tough teams that have been playoff contenders for the last few years in the WNBL so it’s great to have them at home.”

“I think that obviously we need to try to take advantage of as many home games as we possibly can this year and utilise the time differences and all the physiological advantages we’re going to have over teams when we play at home,” the coach said.

The Alcohol.Think Again West Coast Waves are also looking forward to getting out and about this season and will be taking three home games to the regions. The Waves are travelling to the South West in Round 5 against Bulleen, heading to Basketball WA Association club, Lakeside, in Round 7 and continue their successful Northern Territory partnership with the Round 18 game to be played in Alice Springs.

Basketball WA chief operations officer, Craig Reynolds, said it’s great to have the opportunity to take their show on the road and to have the support of the communities.

“This year the Waves are taking the game to the community with matches being held at Lakeside, Bunbury and the Northern Territory. This could not of happened without the support of the Department of Sport and Recreation and the NT government,” Mr Reynolds said.

Check out the full Waves 2012/13 schedule here.