The Taranaki Mountain Airs basketball team couldn't have scripted a better home send-off for retiring veteran Aaron Bailey-Nowell aka 'Aunty'.
Veteran Airs player Aaron Bailey-Nowell speaks to the crowd after their win in New Plymouth last night. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Cellar-dwellers last season, the New Plymouth-based side last night qualified in top spot for this year's National Basketball League playoffs dispatching the Nelson Giants 98-67 - cueing wild scenes at a sold out TSB Stadium.
More than 2000 people crammed into the arena to watch the Mountain Airs claim No 1 spot on the ladder for the first time since 1992.
And they were not disappointed as a flamboyant Airs side led by the National Basketball League's leading scorer Anthony Hilliard mirrored the pre-game pyrotechnics and dominated from the off.
It was an emotional night for Waitara High School product Bailey-Nowell who is calling time on a career that has spanned 20 seasons, including 15 at the Mountain Airs.
"It was an amazing feeling. You know, we've had highs and lows here throughout the years and really suffered in terms of being at the bottom of the ladder, but we're really happy with the way this season has gone.
"The job isn't done yet; we still need to win the semi-final and the final which would be a great way to go out."
The 41-year-old forward paid tribute to the sacrifices his family has made and to the Airs' long-suffering fans.
"I appreciate everything my family has done for me and I couldn't have done it without them.
"I love the fans. We're very lucky through thick and thin there's people that have always come out to support us and I love that about our province. You know, if you play hard people recognise that."
Aaron Bailey-Nowwell signs his autograph for fans. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Head coach Trent Adam said giving Bailey-Nowell a fitting home send off was a huge motivation for the team.
"Aunty is a warrior, you know what I mean, he has a warrior mentality and we talked about that and that nothing but a warrior mentality would get us through tonight.
"He's been through a lot over a lot of years and he hasn't had the people around him or the resources to show who he was as a person.
"So, for him in his last year to get into first place and head off to the play offs [is great and] trying to win it for him is going to be a big part of who we are next week."
Head coach Trent Adam speaks to the players during the match. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Adam said having a better resourced back office has helped the Airs turn around their form as had its three imports Hilliard, Shaun Willet and crowd favourite Javonte Douglas.
"We knew JJ [Douglas] before he got here so we knew we were getting a high quality person as well as a player and yeah we hit home runs with Ant [Hilliard] and Shaun.
"They are great people, they fit in unbelievably well, they have a great attitude and though they are a focal point on the floor at training they are just your average guy."
Douglas - who played for the Airs in 2018 before heading off to win a title in Russia - was mobbed by fans after the game.
Crowd favourite Javonte Douglas takes some time out with the fans. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
He said qualifying first was important and they put it all on the line for Aunty.
"We wanted the number one spot. Everybody came out with heart, we was [sic] aggressive and we knew what we were playing for. We needed that number one spot going into the finals."
He loved the Taranaki fans. "They're great, they're awesome. I love the fans I love the energy. I think we've got the best crowd in the league."
Douglas rated the Airs' chances of winning the league.
"If we play aggressive and play together we can win. We've got a good chance if we play together."
The Airs go straight into the semi-finals of the six-team playoffs which will be played in Auckland next week.
Young fans will have to follow the Airs' progress from afar next week. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
