New signing Webster expected to suit up against United

The Adelaide 36ers are expecting new signing Corey Webster to suit up for Wednesday night’s home game against Melbourne United.

The club announced the signing of the veteran of 287 NBL games and three championships on Tuesday morning, as a replacement for the injured Flynn Cameron.

Coincidentally Webster has played alongside Cameron for the New Zealand national team, as well as with 36ers captain Bryce Cotton when the pair formed a solid backcourt partnership with the Perth Wildcats in NBL23 and NBL24.

Speaking to Adelaide media following the signing, Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations, Matt Weston said getting the 37-year-old on the court against United would boost the side.

“I think he's going to help and I think there's also things that we can do (as a group),” said Weston when asked if Webster would help the group get over its two-game winless run.

“We don't want to, say, ‘Corey, come in and help us get out of this on your own.

“Our energy's been down and that's unusual for us so I think with us being able to lift the energy, Corey just being able to bring in that experience, that read of the shooting, his big game play, you know, he's won championships, he's played around the world, he just recently played in the FIBA window (for New Zealand) so he's in good shape.

“I think it's more or less, we don't want to put everything on Corey. I don’t think that’s fair. We want to take our own responsibility as well.”

Weston said Webster’s experience would prove valuable as the side prepares for a run of four straight road games, starting this weekend.

“One of the things that you need, especially when you're on the road, is people that have been here and done it before,” he explained.

“Your role players and younger guys at home are generally a bit more comfortable, but on the road and you probably saw that Illawarra game, they get a little bit shellshocked so it's just that steadiness and that sort of leadership of ‘I've been here and I've done it before’, and his threat around the ability of him being a high level shooter as well.

“I think that's going to help Bryce get a little bit more free so I think there's a couple of key things there around the X's and A's that he'll help us with.”

The Sixers have a nervous wait on the outcome of a Game Review Panel after Nick Rakocevic was cited for striking New Zealand’s Mojave King in Sunday’s loss to the Breakers.

With a game against Melbourne United on Wednesday night, Weston said the team would need to prepare to play both with him and without him.

“We saw the other night, 29 (points) and 16 (rebounds),” Weston explained.

“He was huge for us. But then, again, you go ‘right next man up.

“We've got to have that mentality. That's what we're trying to drive here.”

The Sixers will host United on Wednesday night in an Ignite Cup presented by 7 Eleven game.

It’ll be the second time the sides meet in a matter of weeks, after Adelaide’s opening round win in Melbourne.

It will also be the first time Joe Ingles returns to his home city to play in a number of years, and would be sure to draw a crowd.

“The league's just going strength to strength by the guys that are coming in,” Weston said.

“Joe's obviously at the twilight of his career, but he can still play.

“He's still one of their best players so I think it's going to be good to see him in Adelaide again, that's for sure.”

Wednesday night’s game tips off at 7:00pm ACDT with the last remaining tickets on offer at Ticketek.

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