Vickerman urges team to ‘have a real crack’ in Ignite Cup clash

Wednesday won’t just be our first NBL game in Bendigo in five seasons, it will also mark our first ever home Ignite Cup game.

Having split our pair of Ignite Cup games so far, any hopes of finishing in the top two of the competition standings will rest on two commanding victories in Bendigo.

Coming off two wins against our opponents for Wednesday’s game, the Cairns Taipans, by 35 and 27 points so far this season, Head Coach Dean Vickerman wants his side to chase a potential appearance in the final of the season’s new addition.

“There’s a chance for us (to make the Ignite Cup final) with two games to go,” Vickerman said.

“As you get a little older, any time a first comes up, to say ‘this is a first chance to win this one and go to the Gold Coast’ so I’ve really pushed the message to the boys to have a real crack.

“We play Cairns and Brisbane in those two games and we’ve got a chance to go win some quarters.”

These Ignite Cup games in Bendigo have also provided the opportunity for us to play games in front of home fans in Victoria across a period which would normally see the team play exclusively on the road.

“We're obviously excited about just having home games through January. I love what the club's done and take a couple of games up to Bendigo,” Vickerman elaborated.

“Obviously there’s the Daniels factor with Dash going home just puts that extra little incentive to go and play really well up there.

“We have good memories of COVID periods playing games up there and crowds up there so I’m looking forward to it.”

We are set to take on the Taipans inside Bendigo Stadium from 7:30pm on Wednesday 7 January.

Tickets to the game still remain available, so get in fast to secure your seat to this thrilling matchup.

Bendigo game Membership packages are also available for those looking to attend both games for the best value.