The men’s and women’s teams defeated the Bunbury Slammers.
The Perth Basketball Association, trading as the Perth Redbacks, opened in 1964 to offer the most basic entry-level basketball competitions through to the highest level of senior basketball competition.
Life member and former player Rob Rowbottom joined in 1965 as a junior and said while the clubs had become more professional, the loyalty factor of players has changed.
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READ NOW‘It’s become very competitive and players at higher levels are more likely to go where there is the best deal and the best opportunity,’ he said.
Former club president Gary Prior said the men’s State Basketball League team won championships in 1989, 1990 and 1997, and the women in 1987 and 2000.
Current league coach Nik Lackovic, who played in the 1997 grand final team, has joined with the club’s last premiership winning coach Norm Majors to develop a team with a real chance to win the title again this year.
‘The Perth Redbacks is the only club in this State to have produced a player via its SBL ranks that has ultimately played in the USA National Basketball Association in Luc Longley,’ he said.
‘Our club has also produced numerous other Australian National Basketball League players who played for the Perth Wildcats and other teams, including Andrew Vlahov, who went on to captain the Wildcats and to represent Australia at four Olympic Games in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.’