August 7, 2026 • 14 mins
In their 40 seasons of the National Basketball League, the Wellington Saints have been involved in 21 Grand Finals.
They'll again look to continue the legacy and champion the proud history of the club when meeting the Southland Sharks in the 2026 Grand Final in Invercargill on Sunday.
It's a repeat of last year's victorious final for the Saints, which was staged on home court in Wellington, and, it's a bid for a record extending 14th title in the competition.
The Saints have had another season of championing young local players to help them reach another final, but it's also been another year where the Saints have brought leading basketballers from around the world to Wellington and to the club.
A major accolade for the club was handed out this week with import guard Elijah Pepper, one of Australia's leading basketballers, being named the league's Most Valuable Player. Pepper was also named as part of the league's All-Star Five.
It follows some incredible scoring from him this year in the Saints singlet, averaging nearly 29 points across his 18 games - that's the highest average scoring in the league since 2019.
Pepper caught up with Adam Cooper on his awards, as well as a look ahead to Sunday's final.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Well. In their forty seasons of the National Basketball League,
the Wellington Saints have been involved in twenty one Grand finals.
They'll again look to continue the legacy and champion the
proud history of the club when meeting the Southland Sharks
in the twenty twenty six Grand Final and then Theicargoll tomorrow.
It's a repeat of last year's final which was right
(00:28):
here in Wellington, and for the Saints it's a bid
for a record extending fourteenth title in the competition. The
Saints have had another season of championing young local players
to help them reach another final, but it's also been
another year where the Saints have brought leading basketballers from
around the world to Wellington and to the club. And
a massive accolade for the Saints this year with import
(00:50):
guard Elijah Pepper, one of Australia's leading basketballers, being named
the League's Most Valuable Player yesterday. Elijah was also named
as part of the league's All Star five, followed some
incredible scoring from him this year in the Saints single it,
averaging nearly twenty nine points across his eighteen games. That's
the highest average scoring in the league since twenty nineteen.
(01:12):
He also averaged five point three rebounds, four point eight assists,
and two point nine it steals per game. So having
been a major part of driving the Saints for this year,
Elijah Pepper joins us now to build up to tomorrow's
final warning. Elijah, thanks to your time, mate, and a
huge congratulations on all the accolades you've received this past week.
(01:32):
The awards have been announced over the past few days.
How did you balance out rightly celebrating these massive individual
honors while also keeping focus on preparing for the big
game tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah. No, First of all, thanks for having me. I'm
happy to be able to come on, come on the show.
But you know, it's I mean, it means a lot.
I'm thankful to be able to get the MVP award.
I think it says a lot because of the way
it's voted upon. It comes from coaches in media, so
I think that says a little bit as well. But
I think it also speaks to the fact that a
(02:05):
y and the guys around me have put me in
a good position to win the award. So, I mean,
I'm super thankful to have gotten the MVP and proud
of it. But in terms of how we've kind of
gone about our week and stuff like that. We haven't
really focused on it almost at all. You know, our
focus is on the winning the championship on Sunday at
(02:26):
Southland and making sure we're ready to go for that,
So trying not to worry about anything else outside of
outside of that game Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And just like Ruralize, you're going to play of your
experience that's has had a lot of success around the globe,
particularly in Australia. When you sit out to come down
to New Zealand for a season, what kind of aims
or ambitions do you have when you hit to a
smaller league as part of an on MBL.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I mean, my goal, I feel like wherever you go,
your goal is obviously to win a championship. So like
that was obviously that's part of why you play basketball
is to win games. But the big thing, especially talking
to Ay, was just to get to get better and
especially improving for Australia MBO, which is obviously right around
the corner after the New Zealand NBL, So just getting
(03:14):
better there. And then we kind of talked to another goal.
I mean it's been achieved a little bit, but was
to win that MVP, and they're all All Star five
in All League Awards, so you know, it's been great
to be able to get those, but we still got
the big ultimate goal, which is part of why you
played basketball, and not to win the championship.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
And I remember when your signing was announce right at
the start of the year, it put a lot of
basketball people around the country on notice, Wow, Elijah Pepper
is coming to play in the NBL. Did you feel
any pressure on you given a lot of people probably
expected big things of you this year?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You know, not really. I think that's kind of just
how basketball works a little bit. There's always going to
be a little bit of a little bit of outside
noise and a little bit of not drama, but something
along those lines. So you know, it's kind of fun
to have that. And but at the end of the day,
I don't really I don't really think it affects me
too much. I'm just happy to be out here and
(04:09):
play basketball and get a whole lot better.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And right from your arrival, you did deliver some amazing
numbers and stats that I read out at the start
of the interview. I know it hasn't been an easy season,
for the Saints overall with injuries and the like. But
you have yourself been such a key contributor to the
team overall, You've got to be proud of the season
as you look back on your contributions.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean I feel great about what I've
been able to do individually and how I've been able to,
you know, help with teams success. But I think in
terms of the overall environment, I mean, the guys, the team,
There's been a lot of ups and downs on the
basketball court. There's been a lot of personal stuff off
the basketball courts the guys have had to go through. So,
(04:51):
you know, just having to push through that adversity I
think has led us to a pretty special moment and
us coming together and being able to play the Sunday.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
The Saints are a strong wave of meantime, You've had
some big wins these last few weeks, particularly the two
so far in the playoffs, that massive win over the
Oakland to Atata last week. Ken what's clicked recently in
this team that's contributed to these big schools.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You know, it's hard to it's hard to say and
just pick one, but I do think the fact that
you know, you want to say it's playoffs and everybody
kind of locks in. But the fact that it hits
you a little bit when you're going into that we
had that four or five game against Totagra, where like,
this could this could really be your your last game
of the year before everybody kind of disperses it goes
back to their their teams. So I think the fact
(05:39):
that we it hit us a little bit that we
could be we could be done as soon as I
mean a week ago. Uh. But then the fact that
we I think we were yelling at the right time
and guys were playing really well together. I think we're
kind of synchronized and so to speak, and everybody kind
of knows what everybody's going to do and and and
that's a great, great aspect of how I think a
(06:00):
great piece of the puzzle for winning these games.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Teams get built around players like you. But I know
the Saints roster this year was also built around Captain
a Zia Leaffa, who we didn't get to see much
of this season. Sadly, as he continues to recover from
that foot injury. How much change had to be made
to adapt to his absence through most of the season yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Know, it's it's been a and that's kind of part
of the on and off difficulties that we've dealt with
a little bit part of it was just injuries we've had.
You know, Day's had to I mean, he's been here
for I don't even know how long. It feels like
he's probably been here forever. He's probably won half of
the championships here by now. But uh, he you know,
he was a huge part of our success and the
(06:43):
team's success before I ever got here. So for him
to be out and having to deal with those injuries
obviously makes makes winning those games a whole lot tougher.
And then it's it's probably hard on him as well.
You know, you you come back and then you're dealing
with injuries again. So it's it's a tough thing to
deal with. But the way he's handled it has been great.
And I think the way the guys have gone about
supporting him and making sure that you know, he's with
(07:06):
us every step of the way and still a part
of that run is pretty special as well.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And for a while it's been said he might be
good to go for the very end of the season.
Well we're at that point. Now. I know he's traveling
with you guys to the game tomorrow as well. So
the million dollar question is is he going to be
fit enough to take to the course.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I think he's I think he's going to try, but
it's going to be a closer one. We'll We'll have
to see how he goes with his rehab and recovery.
I think he's still got a test or two to pass,
but I think he's going to maybe give it a shot.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Oh great. When you assess your season overall, Elijah, Yes,
there's still a big game to go. Do you measure
your success on the stats and the numbers alone or
do you put waiting on other factors when you assess
how you've.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Gone, Well, you know, personal success, I don't. You'd love
to say it's like based on how many points and
all that you score, but I think it's a little
it's a little deeper than that because there's games where
you don't necessarily score thirty five points every game, and
I think being able to impact the game and affect
winning at the end of the day is the biggest thing.
(08:08):
If you're wherever you go, if you're winning games, that's
always going to look great. So you know, if I'm
able to impact winning even if shots aren't going in,
that's a good part of how I determined success, at
least for myself. But as far as your team success,
you know, the everything's based around winning. So it's you
(08:29):
want to you want to look at the numbers and
you can look at it a deeper scale, but the
end of the day, it's either winner you lose. That's
that's all that matters at the on the scoreboard. And
so you know, so far we've done a pretty good
job of it. Hopefully we can do it one more time.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
And you've mentioned a why your coach Aaron Young afairbet
during the interview. The record he's got speaks for himself,
doesn't it. It's his fifth Grand Final in five years
in the NBL, five in a row. He had three
of the tatata and now has seeking that the Saints.
He's also your assistant co at the Perth Wildcats. So
what's behind Aaron success alwer in getting the beast out
(09:05):
of his plans?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
You know, I think he does a really good job
of figuring out and understanding how each guy kicks, so
to speak. He understands whether it's it's myself or one
of the other guys, like how how they respond to
the feedback from criticism and how they like to be
coached a little bit. And I think Ay does a
really good job of adhering to that and understanding that
(09:27):
and kind of changing his approach when it comes to
certain guys. But also the way I think the way
he coaches is just a winning, winning style of basketball.
He coaches defensive intensity, tagging up the rebounds, like everything
he the way, everything he does, in the way he
goes about his job relates to winning. Obviously, it shows
when you reach five Grand finals in a row. I
(09:48):
mean that's you almost say that's practically impossible. So I
think a why is just a you know, he's a winner,
and the way he goes about his job and his
businesses is pretty pretty dang elite. Right.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Let's talk about tomorrow's final. The Sharks prevailed when you
meet them and then the Cargo back in May, you
had a very impressive one over them in the final
game of the regular season on your Saints home called
only a couple of weekends ago. How much different, Elijah,
will this task be to the ones you've had against
the Southland Sharks during the season.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
You know, it's definitely it's definitely a little different when
you think about it. We were we kind of had
a little bit of uh not revenge, but we had
a little We had the loss from their place kind
of on our mind. That's stung a little bit, so
we wanted to get back at them and hopefully hopefully
that sits a little a little bit more because I
think we got it. We need to get one more
over them. But in terms of how we want to
(10:43):
go about it is just they killed us that first
game on the catch and shoot threes and stuff like that,
So trying to take that away and take away their
offensive rebounding and then just make being smart on offense.
They get a lot of stuff in transition. So if
we take care of the ball offensively and take your shots,
you know, that eliminates a good portion of that and
makes their life a lot tougher.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And through the course of the year. How much of
you enjoys being part of the Science Club here, I'm
putting the blue single at all. In the huge crowds
that pack into your home games and make lots of noise,
and the ones that travel too, I'm sure there'll be
a fair few down there tomorrow. Yeah, But in general,
how much have you enjoyed and appreciate it being part
of the science this year?
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Oh, it's been great. You know, it's the most prestigious
club in New Zealand NBA history and you know, having
won I think it's thirteen championships, are going for fourteen,
but then having one Sony Championships, it speaks a lot
to how the organization and the staff goes about their
business and the fact that we have I mean the
(11:42):
fact that you get fans in the museum and they'll
come into away games and road games. We see people
in blue jerseys at every game. The amount of where
we're at is it's great and I think they've all
done a great job in supporting us and putting us
in a position to win.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
And just before you go, Elijah and thanks so much
for your time this morning. You came straight here from
Perth's A and BL campaign which went into the playoffs.
As you mentioned, you're heading right back there as soon
as this weekend's done. So that's a full year round schedule.
Do you even get a break or do you feel
like you just don't need one?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
And you just keep going and at some point I'm
showing you a little bit of a break. But I
haven't had one in a while, and I don't mind
that I can. I mean, basketball is my entire life
and if I love playing it, don't I don't see
the point and taking a break. So hopefully, hopefully I
on new one for the time for the near future.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Britt, It's been great to chat Elijah. Congratulations on the
accolades you've received this week. I've got no doubt that
anyone who's watched any of the league this year will
be in complete agreements with your MVP gongs. So thanks
for everything you've brought to Wellington this year. All the
very best for the trip down to Southend and getting
the job done tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Thanks for joining us this morning, of course, Yeah, thank
you very much, Nane. I mean, I appreciate you guys
having me on the show. So it's it's been great
and I love my time here.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Elijah Pepper, Yeah sounds like there at the now, getting
ready to fly down joining us on the show this
morning here on the All Sport Breakfast. What a season
he's had and yes, the Saints yet another chance. It's
not often you see finals of the National Basketball League
since the eighties that hasn't featured the Saints. I said
it at the start forty seasons the Saints have played
in the National Basketball League and this is their twenty
(13:20):
first Grand Final. Quite remarkable, isn't it? A real success
story over many, many years in different generations, the Wellington
Saints and what they've brought to sport and Wellington, what
they've brought to basketball and Wellington and a chance to
continue that legacy tomorrow with the final against Southland three
o'clock tip off tomorrow afternoon. Bring it on and all
(13:43):
the very best to the Saints traveling party heading down
there to Southland to try and get the job done
tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to tracking their progress here on
news talks they'd been tomorrow afternoon. Our Sports news will
be right across that game for you, and of course
it'll be live on SkyTV as well, and I believe
the Parrot Dog barb out in Lyle Bay will be
showing it live. Parrot doogre sponsors of the Saints, and
(14:05):
they've decided well, anyone that wants to come along and
watch the game live hit out there have a parrot
dog beer, and cheer on the Saints to hopefully be
lifting the NBL Trophy for the fourteenth time. For more
from News Talks B listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Well. In their forty seasons of the National Basketball League,
the Wellington Saints have been involved in twenty one Grand finals.
They'll again look to continue the legacy and champion the
proud history of the club when meeting the Southland Sharks
in the twenty twenty six Grand Final and then Theicargoll tomorrow.
It's a repeat of last year's final which was right
(00:28):
here in Wellington, and for the Saints it's a bid
for a record extending fourteenth title in the competition. The
Saints have had another season of championing young local players
to help them reach another final, but it's also been
another year where the Saints have brought leading basketballers from
around the world to Wellington and to the club. And
a massive accolade for the Saints this year with import
(00:50):
guard Elijah Pepper, one of Australia's leading basketballers, being named
the League's Most Valuable Player yesterday. Elijah was also named
as part of the league's All Star five, followed some
incredible scoring from him this year in the Saints single it,
averaging nearly twenty nine points across his eighteen games. That's
the highest average scoring in the league since twenty nineteen.
(01:12):
He also averaged five point three rebounds, four point eight assists,
and two point nine it steals per game. So having
been a major part of driving the Saints for this year,
Elijah Pepper joins us now to build up to tomorrow's
final warning. Elijah, thanks to your time, mate, and a
huge congratulations on all the accolades you've received this past week.
(01:32):
The awards have been announced over the past few days.
How did you balance out rightly celebrating these massive individual
honors while also keeping focus on preparing for the big
game tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah. No, First of all, thanks for having me. I'm
happy to be able to come on, come on the show.
But you know, it's I mean, it means a lot.
I'm thankful to be able to get the MVP award.
I think it says a lot because of the way
it's voted upon. It comes from coaches in media, so
I think that says a little bit as well. But
I think it also speaks to the fact that a
(02:05):
y and the guys around me have put me in
a good position to win the award. So, I mean,
I'm super thankful to have gotten the MVP and proud
of it. But in terms of how we've kind of
gone about our week and stuff like that. We haven't
really focused on it almost at all. You know, our
focus is on the winning the championship on Sunday at
(02:26):
Southland and making sure we're ready to go for that,
So trying not to worry about anything else outside of
outside of that game Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And just like Ruralize, you're going to play of your
experience that's has had a lot of success around the globe,
particularly in Australia. When you sit out to come down
to New Zealand for a season, what kind of aims
or ambitions do you have when you hit to a
smaller league as part of an on MBL.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I mean, my goal, I feel like wherever you go,
your goal is obviously to win a championship. So like
that was obviously that's part of why you play basketball
is to win games. But the big thing, especially talking
to Ay, was just to get to get better and
especially improving for Australia MBO, which is obviously right around
the corner after the New Zealand NBL, So just getting
(03:14):
better there. And then we kind of talked to another goal.
I mean it's been achieved a little bit, but was
to win that MVP, and they're all All Star five
in All League Awards, so you know, it's been great
to be able to get those, but we still got
the big ultimate goal, which is part of why you
played basketball, and not to win the championship.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
And I remember when your signing was announce right at
the start of the year, it put a lot of
basketball people around the country on notice, Wow, Elijah Pepper
is coming to play in the NBL. Did you feel
any pressure on you given a lot of people probably
expected big things of you this year?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You know, not really. I think that's kind of just
how basketball works a little bit. There's always going to
be a little bit of a little bit of outside
noise and a little bit of not drama, but something
along those lines. So you know, it's kind of fun
to have that. And but at the end of the day,
I don't really I don't really think it affects me
too much. I'm just happy to be out here and
(04:09):
play basketball and get a whole lot better.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And right from your arrival, you did deliver some amazing
numbers and stats that I read out at the start
of the interview. I know it hasn't been an easy season,
for the Saints overall with injuries and the like. But
you have yourself been such a key contributor to the
team overall, You've got to be proud of the season
as you look back on your contributions.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean I feel great about what I've
been able to do individually and how I've been able to,
you know, help with teams success. But I think in
terms of the overall environment, I mean, the guys, the team,
There's been a lot of ups and downs on the
basketball court. There's been a lot of personal stuff off
the basketball courts the guys have had to go through. So,
(04:51):
you know, just having to push through that adversity I
think has led us to a pretty special moment and
us coming together and being able to play the Sunday.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
The Saints are a strong wave of meantime, You've had
some big wins these last few weeks, particularly the two
so far in the playoffs, that massive win over the
Oakland to Atata last week. Ken what's clicked recently in
this team that's contributed to these big schools.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You know, it's hard to it's hard to say and
just pick one, but I do think the fact that
you know, you want to say it's playoffs and everybody
kind of locks in. But the fact that it hits
you a little bit when you're going into that we
had that four or five game against Totagra, where like,
this could this could really be your your last game
of the year before everybody kind of disperses it goes
back to their their teams. So I think the fact
(05:39):
that we it hit us a little bit that we
could be we could be done as soon as I
mean a week ago. Uh. But then the fact that
we I think we were yelling at the right time
and guys were playing really well together. I think we're
kind of synchronized and so to speak, and everybody kind
of knows what everybody's going to do and and and
that's a great, great aspect of how I think a
(06:00):
great piece of the puzzle for winning these games.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Teams get built around players like you. But I know
the Saints roster this year was also built around Captain
a Zia Leaffa, who we didn't get to see much
of this season. Sadly, as he continues to recover from
that foot injury. How much change had to be made
to adapt to his absence through most of the season yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Know, it's it's been a and that's kind of part
of the on and off difficulties that we've dealt with
a little bit part of it was just injuries we've had.
You know, Day's had to I mean, he's been here
for I don't even know how long. It feels like
he's probably been here forever. He's probably won half of
the championships here by now. But uh, he you know,
he was a huge part of our success and the
(06:43):
team's success before I ever got here. So for him
to be out and having to deal with those injuries
obviously makes makes winning those games a whole lot tougher.
And then it's it's probably hard on him as well.
You know, you you come back and then you're dealing
with injuries again. So it's it's a tough thing to
deal with. But the way he's handled it has been great.
And I think the way the guys have gone about
supporting him and making sure that you know, he's with
(07:06):
us every step of the way and still a part
of that run is pretty special as well.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And for a while it's been said he might be
good to go for the very end of the season.
Well we're at that point. Now. I know he's traveling
with you guys to the game tomorrow as well. So
the million dollar question is is he going to be
fit enough to take to the course.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I think he's I think he's going to try, but
it's going to be a closer one. We'll We'll have
to see how he goes with his rehab and recovery.
I think he's still got a test or two to pass,
but I think he's going to maybe give it a shot.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Oh great. When you assess your season overall, Elijah, Yes,
there's still a big game to go. Do you measure
your success on the stats and the numbers alone or
do you put waiting on other factors when you assess
how you've.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Gone, Well, you know, personal success, I don't. You'd love
to say it's like based on how many points and
all that you score, but I think it's a little
it's a little deeper than that because there's games where
you don't necessarily score thirty five points every game, and
I think being able to impact the game and affect
winning at the end of the day is the biggest thing.
(08:08):
If you're wherever you go, if you're winning games, that's
always going to look great. So you know, if I'm
able to impact winning even if shots aren't going in,
that's a good part of how I determined success, at
least for myself. But as far as your team success,
you know, the everything's based around winning. So it's you
(08:29):
want to you want to look at the numbers and
you can look at it a deeper scale, but the
end of the day, it's either winner you lose. That's
that's all that matters at the on the scoreboard. And
so you know, so far we've done a pretty good
job of it. Hopefully we can do it one more time.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
And you've mentioned a why your coach Aaron Young afairbet
during the interview. The record he's got speaks for himself,
doesn't it. It's his fifth Grand Final in five years
in the NBL, five in a row. He had three
of the tatata and now has seeking that the Saints.
He's also your assistant co at the Perth Wildcats. So
what's behind Aaron success alwer in getting the beast out
(09:05):
of his plans?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
You know, I think he does a really good job
of figuring out and understanding how each guy kicks, so
to speak. He understands whether it's it's myself or one
of the other guys, like how how they respond to
the feedback from criticism and how they like to be
coached a little bit. And I think Ay does a
really good job of adhering to that and understanding that
(09:27):
and kind of changing his approach when it comes to
certain guys. But also the way I think the way
he coaches is just a winning, winning style of basketball.
He coaches defensive intensity, tagging up the rebounds, like everything
he the way, everything he does, in the way he
goes about his job relates to winning. Obviously, it shows
when you reach five Grand finals in a row. I
(09:48):
mean that's you almost say that's practically impossible. So I
think a why is just a you know, he's a winner,
and the way he goes about his job and his
businesses is pretty pretty dang elite. Right.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Let's talk about tomorrow's final. The Sharks prevailed when you
meet them and then the Cargo back in May, you
had a very impressive one over them in the final
game of the regular season on your Saints home called
only a couple of weekends ago. How much different, Elijah,
will this task be to the ones you've had against
the Southland Sharks during the season.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
You know, it's definitely it's definitely a little different when
you think about it. We were we kind of had
a little bit of uh not revenge, but we had
a little We had the loss from their place kind
of on our mind. That's stung a little bit, so
we wanted to get back at them and hopefully hopefully
that sits a little a little bit more because I
think we got it. We need to get one more
over them. But in terms of how we want to
(10:43):
go about it is just they killed us that first
game on the catch and shoot threes and stuff like that,
So trying to take that away and take away their
offensive rebounding and then just make being smart on offense.
They get a lot of stuff in transition. So if
we take care of the ball offensively and take your shots,
you know, that eliminates a good portion of that and
makes their life a lot tougher.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And through the course of the year. How much of
you enjoys being part of the Science Club here, I'm
putting the blue single at all. In the huge crowds
that pack into your home games and make lots of noise,
and the ones that travel too, I'm sure there'll be
a fair few down there tomorrow. Yeah, But in general,
how much have you enjoyed and appreciate it being part
of the science this year?
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Oh, it's been great. You know, it's the most prestigious
club in New Zealand NBA history and you know, having
won I think it's thirteen championships, are going for fourteen,
but then having one Sony Championships, it speaks a lot
to how the organization and the staff goes about their
business and the fact that we have I mean the
(11:42):
fact that you get fans in the museum and they'll
come into away games and road games. We see people
in blue jerseys at every game. The amount of where
we're at is it's great and I think they've all
done a great job in supporting us and putting us
in a position to win.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
And just before you go, Elijah and thanks so much
for your time this morning. You came straight here from
Perth's A and BL campaign which went into the playoffs.
As you mentioned, you're heading right back there as soon
as this weekend's done. So that's a full year round schedule.
Do you even get a break or do you feel
like you just don't need one?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
And you just keep going and at some point I'm
showing you a little bit of a break. But I
haven't had one in a while, and I don't mind
that I can. I mean, basketball is my entire life
and if I love playing it, don't I don't see
the point and taking a break. So hopefully, hopefully I
on new one for the time for the near future.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Britt, It's been great to chat Elijah. Congratulations on the
accolades you've received this week. I've got no doubt that
anyone who's watched any of the league this year will
be in complete agreements with your MVP gongs. So thanks
for everything you've brought to Wellington this year. All the
very best for the trip down to Southend and getting
the job done tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Thanks for joining us this morning, of course, Yeah, thank
you very much, Nane. I mean, I appreciate you guys
having me on the show. So it's it's been great
and I love my time here.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Elijah Pepper, Yeah sounds like there at the now, getting
ready to fly down joining us on the show this
morning here on the All Sport Breakfast. What a season
he's had and yes, the Saints yet another chance. It's
not often you see finals of the National Basketball League
since the eighties that hasn't featured the Saints. I said
it at the start forty seasons the Saints have played
in the National Basketball League and this is their twenty
(13:20):
first Grand Final. Quite remarkable, isn't it? A real success
story over many, many years in different generations, the Wellington
Saints and what they've brought to sport and Wellington, what
they've brought to basketball and Wellington and a chance to
continue that legacy tomorrow with the final against Southland three
o'clock tip off tomorrow afternoon. Bring it on and all
(13:43):
the very best to the Saints traveling party heading down
there to Southland to try and get the job done
tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to tracking their progress here on
news talks they'd been tomorrow afternoon. Our Sports news will
be right across that game for you, and of course
it'll be live on SkyTV as well, and I believe
the Parrot Dog barb out in Lyle Bay will be
showing it live. Parrot doogre sponsors of the Saints, and
(14:05):
they've decided well, anyone that wants to come along and
watch the game live hit out there have a parrot
dog beer, and cheer on the Saints to hopefully be
lifting the NBL Trophy for the fourteenth time. For more
from News Talks B listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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