In a first for Australian basketball, the National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) are joining together to kick start their 2012/13 seasons with a combined launch and pre-season tournament in Melbourne this month.

The joint NBL/WNBL tournament launch will tip-off at St Pauls Court, Federation Square in Melbourne at 12:00pm on Thursday 20 September.

Running from 20 – 23 September at Melbourne’s Dandenong Stadium, the pre-season tournament will bring together all eight NBL teams and all nine WNBL teams – the first time both leagues have ever had all of their teams in the one place, at the one time.

Pre-Season Tournament information

Tickets for the pre-season tournament are now on sale through the Dandenong Basketball Association and can be booked by calling 03 9794 7192. For further information on ticketing, please visit www.dandenongbasketball.com.au

Each team will play three games during the course of the tournament – one preliminary match per day, followed by a graded final on the final day of competition.

NBL Game Schedule

The NBL tournament commences on Thursday, 20 September, concluding on Saturday, September 22.

Thursday

17:30 Adelaide v Wollongong

17:30 Perth v Sydney

19:30 Melbourne v Cairns

19:30 New Zealand v Townsville

Friday

18:00 Adelaide v Sydney

18:00 Cairns v NewZealand

20:00 Melbourne v Perth

20:00 Wollongong v Townsville

Saturday

16:00 8th v 7th

16:00 6th v 5th

18:00 4th v 3rd

20:00 1st v 2nd

WNBL Game Schedule

The WNBL tournament commences on Friday, September 21 and concludes on Sunday, September 23.

Friday

16:00 Bendigo v Townsville

18:00 Adelaide v China-B

18:00 Bulleen v West Coast

20:00 Sydney Uni v Logan

20:00 Dandenong v Canberra

Saturday

16:00 Logan v West Coast

16:00 Townsville v China-B

18:00 Bulleen v Canberra

18:00 Bendigo v Sydney Uni

18:00 Dandenong v Adelaide

Sunday

10:00 9th v 10th

10:00 7th v 8th

10:00 5th v 6th

12:00 3rd v 4th

12:00 1st v 2nd