Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, my irregular "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

My past two weeks of hitting the NBL's 1983 Media Guide has been very well received so I may revisit that one again soon. But it is time for some women's flashbacks too, these being random excerpts from the 1994 WNBL Finals program.

THE ROAD TO THE FINALS

In the pre-season coaches' poll, the favorites were clear. Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne were far and away the top three choices, with Perth and Dandenong locked in their minds as to who would finish fourth.

Obviously our West Coast WNBL coaches are astute judges. The Adelaide Quit Lightning was the runaway minor round premier, while the Melbourne Digital Tigers enjoyed, arguably, their best season to finish second.

Third after the home-and-away round was the Sydney 2WS Flames, trying to emulate the feats of teams such as the legendary Nunawading Spectres - the quest for back-to-back WNBL titles.

Then came the Perth Quit Breakers. It took until the second-last round of the regular season before they were assured of keeping their noses in front of the Dandenong Quit Rangers.

These are the four teams that now vie for the right to be called the Champion.

Over three weeks of playoff action, one will triumph and the race is tighter than ever.

Adelaide was always going to be regarded as a top contender. Missing out in last year's preliminary final (losing to Perth) the Lightning recruited brilliantly in the off-season.

Three members of the World Junior Champion team headed for South Australia. Guard Kristi Harrower and forwards Jo Hill and Carla Boyd all joined the Lightning, which was further boosted by the return of veteran forward Marina Moffa from a year with Dandenong.

The Lightning have more than lived up to expectations. Playing a fast, attacking style, of basketball with almost too many offensive options, Adelaide leads the WNBL in average points scored.

Also no slouches defensively, Adelaide also has the best record in holding its opponents to low scores. Teams have scored just 55 points on the Lightning this season.

Melbourne has also stepped up a notch this year due to a big reason! That reason's name is Maryanne Di Francesco. Her presence inside for the Tigers this season has revolutionised their game.

Di Francesco has proved herself to be one of the WNBL's premier post players, freeing up Tigers captain Jo Metcalfe to wreak havoc elsewhere.

In previous years, Melbourne has had to rely heavily on Metcalfe to score, rebound and take the main defensive role. While Metcalfe was capable of all those things, the lack of support in the frontline told as the season wore on.

No individual Tiger features prominently in the individual statistical award categories and therein lies a strength!

The Tigers have some terrific options. Di Francesco, Metcalfe and Allison Cook are superb scorers and great clutch players but Melbourne also has the underrated Kerryn Henderson who can light up from unlimited range. Coach Ray Tomlinson also has strength and experience on his bench, although is lacking a little in frontline depth.

The Tigers have lost four times during the regular season - twice to Perth, Adelaide and Dandenong. Their best performance in the WNBL is a semi final in 1992 and they will go further than that, assured of at least a preliminary final spot.

Sydney has peaked at the right time, coming home on a four-game winning streak.

The Flames know what it takes to win a championship, having held firm against Perth last year. They also have the talent and discipline to shut down any opponent, as Adelaide can atest from the final home-and-away round!

Sydney won the minor round premiership last year, losing just one regular season game. This year the Flames have had four losses - twice to the Tigers and once to Adelaide and Canberra.

Enjoying a strong and vocal following in Sydney, the Flames will play their elimination final in front of an equally rabid crowd in Perth. It will provide a stern test of Sydney's emotional and mental strength.

Shelley Gorman has had a superb season to lead the Flames in scoring, while several others have stepped in and out of the limelight. Sydney enjoys great support from its blue-collar workers in Karen Dalton and Michele Landon, with the defensive nous of Robyn Maher. Off the bench, there is plenty of support, particularly from import Rhonda Bates.

It will be hard going for the Flames in Perth. The Breakers will have plenty of support at the entertainment centre and will want to give the fans something to cheer about.

Their record at home was not as strong as they would have liked this season, winning five out of their nine games.

But Perth has a strong frontline and some determined hustling players in the backcourt. The continued injury cloud to Michele Timms casts a shadow over the Breakers' championship aspirations but it will be a hard-fought battle, no matter what.

There were really no surprises among the playoff berths. Dandenong came home with a wet sail, winning five in a row until the final game drubbing by Brisbane. The Rangers gave themselves too hard a task in the run down the stretch to end up two wins behind Perth in fifth place.

Brisbane has been the great improver this year after finishing with the wooden spoon in 1993. The Blazers had an 8-10 win-loss record in 1994 compared to just two wins last year.

Canberra had a disappointing season, given the relative stability of their team, while Bulleen, the AIS and Tassie Islanders all have a lot of work in the off-season. Best of luck for 95!

Adelaide Quit Lightning: Kristi Harrower, Michele Weir, Vicky Daldy, Jo Hill, Lisa Bowyer, Debra Copley, Carla Boyd, Marina Moffa, Rachael Sporn, Trina Roberts. Coach: Jan Stirling. Asst: Peter Sexton. Manager: Margaret Williamson. Form: The hot favorites having lost just two games this season. Bundled out of the playoff race last year in the preliminary final by Perth. No titles under current identity, although several players have championships to their credit with other teams. deep, fast, talented and tough.

Melbourne Digital Tigers: Michelle Chandler, Tracey Febey, Kerryn Henderson, Kellie Smith, Clarissa Tomlinson, Allison Cook, Mandy Bonney, Jo Metcalfe, Maryanne Di Francesco. Coach: Ray Tomlinson. Asst: Michelle Middlemo. Manager: Marian Kapnoullas. Form: Never been further than the semi finals, the Tigers have, arguably, their best chance ever this season. Will need to keep out of foul and injury trouble after losing Sam Tomlinson mid-year to retirement, and back-up centre Emma Clements to the US.

Perth Quit Breakers: Lara Webb, Lisa MacLean, Michele Timms, Natasha Bargeus, Elena Minaeva, Marianna Vlahov, Gina Stevens, Rosie Carlton, Fiona Robinson, Tully Crook. Coach: Guy Molloy. Asst: Rob Beveridge. Manager: Kim Poore. Form: The 1992 champion, Perth lost last year's grand final by a point to Sydney. An experienced, capable team, the Breakers are capable of doing anything on their night, although an injury to Michele Timms could quickly derail their 1994 campaign.

Sydney 2WS Flames: Robyn Maher, Renee Van Egmond, Michele Landon, Shelley Gorman, Trish Fallon, Kara Ward, Jodie Smith, Karen Dalton, Gail Henderson, Rhonda Bates. Coach: Carrie Graf. Asst: Helen Breen. Manager: Colette Steer. Form: The Sydney 2WS Flames are trying to become the first team since Nunawading Spectres to take back-to-back titles. An experienced, composed team who should cope well with expectations and pressure.