HALIFAX – The owner of the Halifax Rainmen says the basketball team will be back next season after a controversial end to its recent championship series.
At a news conference on Monday, Andre Levingston broke his silence and apologized after the Rainmen did not show up for Game 7 of the National Basketball League of Canada final on Thursday against the Windsor Express, which resulted in a Halifax forfeit.
Levingston said his team plays an important role in the city and continues to have support from fans.
The no-show came after a fight between the teams at a shoot around earlier in the day.
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Levingston said he didn’t agree with the decision made by coach Josep Claros to not show up, but the players did and refused to play.
Claros, assistant coach Pedro Monteiro and the players held an informal press conference without Levingston on Saturday where they said they did not feel safe to play, although Levingston said he felt appropriate measures had been taken to ensure everybody’s safety.
Rainmen forward Kevin Young said at the gathering that the players, coaches and ownership made the decision not play out of concern for the players’ safety.
Young said he and his teammates felt they were physically targeted during the series by Windsor players.
Eleven Rainmen players have each been fined $5,000 and suspended indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the league” following their no-show in Windsor.
Claros and Monteiro also face fines and have been permanently banned from coaching in the league. The Rainmen organization was also fined $20,000.
Following Thursday’s forfeit, the Windsor Express won the league championship series by default. The team issued refunds to fans who had tickets to the game and is planning a victory event for Sunday afternoon.
– With files from The Canadian Press
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