4 Dec 2008

New NBL franchise to play out the season

6:02 am on 4 December 2008

The battling Australian National Basketball League club Sydney Spirit will play out the season after their players accepted a pay cut of more than 50 per cent.

The players and coaching staff voted overnight to accept a modified rescue package offered by the NBL, which slightly upgraded an earlier proposal.

The Spirit captain and long-serving Australian guard Jason Smith says he's not sure about staying in the sport next year, after going through similar financial hardship at the now defunct Sydney Kings earlier this year.

After their troubles came to a head last week, the Spirit still managed to upset the high-flying South Dragons at the weekend.