Latest news with #MilesPearce
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Panthers withdraw from NBL
The Indian Panthers are half of one and done. They have withdrawn from the National Basketball League midway through their rookie season. The Auckland-based team have been forced to acknowledge they can not meet their obligations as set down in the participation agreement, and have pulled out of the league. And by that, you can read that they have not paid their bills. It has been a complete debacle. The league previously gave them 10 days to meet their obligations or face expulsion. That deadline lapsed on Monday, and there had been radio silence until yesterday. The Panthers opted to fall on their sword instead. Their withdrawal from the league is immediate. The nine games they played are null and void, although individual statistics will remain on the official record. Perhaps the situation would have been left to fester longer had their players not taken action and boycotted the game against the Canterbury Rams in Auckland on April 29. Up until then, there had been rumours the Panthers were struggling, but the boycott shone a light on the situation. The saga might have another chapter. The league has accepted the Panthers' withdrawal on the basis they honour outstanding payments to creditors, including players and staff, as well as compensation to the league. "When we embarked on the Panthers project, our shared vision was to provide Indian players with a platform to develop and showcase their talents on a respected and historically significant stage," the Panthers said in a statement yesterday. "However, the journey has presented unforeseen challenges. "While some obstacles were within our control, others were not. "In hindsight, fielding a team abroad for five months has proven more complex than anticipated, and we do not foresee a resolution in the immediate future." The Panthers had also been granted entry in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, but will no longer participate in the women's league. The Southern Hoiho's participation in Tauihi is also in doubt after the team's owners, SEN, surrendered the playing licence earlier in the year. The Indian Panthers' entry into the NBL will go down in New Zealand sporting history as one of its worst failed experiments. They immediately had trouble delivering on the hype surrounding their inclusion. The team took the court without any of the Indian players initially named in the squad for their season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on March 12. They cited international commitments for the delay in getting players out to New Zealand, but many of them never arrived. There were further disruptions when coach Miles Pearce quit two days before their first home game. Tensions erupted when the team boycotted the Rams' game in protest over delayed payments. And the situation became even more untenable when star import Alex Robinson jun posted claims on social media that he had not been paid. They also made the decision to relocate from their initial base at the Bruce Pulman Arena to the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Indian Panthers withdraw from National Basketball League
'Looking ahead, we remain committed to our original vision and are eager to explore opportunities for collaboration in future seasons. We believe that, with the right adjustments and planning, we can overcome the current challenges and achieve our shared goals. We deeply regret the situation and assure you that this outcome was never our intention.' Among their struggles this season, visa delays for Indian players and national team commitments led to the organisation recruiting New Zealanders to fill in. Head coach Miles Pearce also resigned after one game. A fixture against the Canterbury Rams in Pukekohe was called off because of the Panthers being unable to field a full squad, and it was understood the team were planning a protest over a lack of payment and treatment of players. The remainder of the 2025 season will be contested as an 11-team league, with all results from Panthers games already completed to be removed entirely. The league said there were three parties interested in picking up the now-vacant 12th licence but no decisions would be made until a review of the current season had been completed. 'While this is an unfortunate outcome to what was a very exciting vision to expand our basketball competition across New Zealand and the Asian region, the Panthers did not deliver what they had promised, for which they have taken responsibility,' NBL commission chairwoman Tracey Garland said. 'Despite our disappointment, over the last seven years the innovations our basketball leagues have shown, in both the men's and women's competitions, are viewed across New Zealand sport as being bold, courageous and largely successful – we value being leaders in this space and we will continue to look to grow the leagues."
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Indian Panthers withdraw from National Basketball League
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The Indian Panthers have withdrawn from the National Basketball League, acknowledging the franchise is not in a position to meet the requirements of the league to complete the season. The Panthers accepted the franchise has not delivered what it set out to achieve and apologised to supporters and fans. On 9 May, the Panthers were issued an ultimatum to satisfy a series of requirements within 10 days, with financial viability a key area of concern. That deadline expired on Monday. RNZ also revealed on Monday the South Asian players who had been recruited in the Indian Panthers squad had returned to India, a development that was confirmed by a former staff member of the franchise. The franchise had already been suspended from the league on 1 May following a string of allegations, including contractual breaches, unpaid wages and internal disarray. The Indian Panthers' debut season has been fraught with challenges. The team took the court without any of the 10 Indian players initially named in the squad in its season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on 12 March, citing international commitments. Further disruption followed when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days before the Panthers' first home fixture. Tensions reached a boiling point on 29 April, when players refused to play against the Canterbury Rams in protest over delayed payments, prompting the match to be postponed. The situation escalated further after former Panthers player Alex Robinson Jr. posted a pointed message on Instagram, alleging he had not been paid. Robinson has since left the team and signed with the Nelson Giants. After nine matches without a league win, the team relocated its South Auckland base in April from Bruce Pulman Arena in Takanini to the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe. More to come ...
