The Otago Nuggets have signed former rebounding champion Antoine Tisby for a third stint with the franchise, and the Breakers announced they will play two pre-season games in the South Island in mid-September - one in Christchurch and the other in Dunedin.
The Breakers made a goodwill visit to Christchurch at the weekend and general manager Richard Clarke said there was genuine excitement in the camp about a return trip to the South Island.
"We have been trying to get to the South Island for some time to repay the loyalty of supporters down here and helping Canterbury Basketball in difficult times," he said in a press release.
"While we are an Auckland-based team, we see our responsibility as very much a nationwide one in terms of promoting the game and our club values.
"It is also important that we play a part in helping rebuild the city of Christchurch and while we can't help directly with bricks and mortar, we can do something to help the morale of the community by bringing the Australian Basketball League to town, albeit in pre-season mode."
The Breakers hope to bring as close to a full-strength squad as they can muster and the games will be against the Wollongong Hawks.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets rosters received another boost at the weekend with news Tisby will return for a third stint.
The 28-year-old Atlanta-born centre made a big impact on his first trip here in 2008, leading the National Basketball League in rebounds with an average of 10.7 each game.
He had a great ability to swat away shots and was just as effective at the other end with an average of 24.2 points (third in the league).
He was, perhaps, unlucky not to make the all-star five that year.
But when he returned in 2010 he was not quite the same player. He was troubled by a foot injury and was eventually cut after six games. He still managed to post some impressive numbers, averaging 23.5 points and 10.3 rebounds.
His departure, though, was followed by suggestions he was not fully committed to his rehabilitation programme.
Basketball Otago general manager Markham Brown said he was not with the Nuggets when Tisby was cut by the franchise but said he was satisfied Tisby would have a good attitude.
"I understand he didn't come back from that injury as well or as quickly as they wanted and decided to move on," Brown said.
"But everybody knows what he can do and we are looking forward to getting him back on deck.
"From talking to his agent [we've heard] he has been working out hard and all indications are that he is pretty fired-up about his return.
"He had no hesitation in coming back and we are really confident that we've got the environment here to motivate him along with all of our players."
Tisby has been playing in the Canadian NBL for the Saint John Mill Rats and in 27 games averaged 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.
It is the same league the Nuggets' other import Akeem Wright has been playing in.
Tisby is expected to arrive in Dunedin today with Wright arriving later in the week.
