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NEW Bendigo Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama will coach his first home game on Sunday against the WNBL club he previously helmed, Perth Lynx - formerly West Coast Waves - but more importantly, the club will host families from local flood-stricken regions and feature a host of fund-raising events for the flood affected.

Bendigo opens its 2022-23 season tonight in Canberra and Kereama, who also assisted at the Capitals and Melbourne Boomers since coaching the Waves a decade ago, is bringing a new lease of life to the Spirit.

Hundreds of local basketball fans recently impacted by the Victorian floods will be the club's "guests of honour" on Sunday for the visit of the Perth Lynx at Red Energy Arena.

The Spirit will host families from Echuca, Rochester and Elmore, areas heavily affected by the flooding. The club has arranged free bus transportation to and from Bendigo's first home game, providing free entry and involvement in both pre-game and post-game functions.

There will be kids’ activations at Red Energy Arena from 1pm-1:45, with a chance to meet the Bendigo Spirit team from 4pm-4:45.

A series of fundraising initiatives will occur during the match, thanks to the support of local businesses and partners, with all funds donated to the Bendigo Bank flood appeal: https://www.bendigobank.com.au/appeals/flood-appeals/

Bendigo Spirit general manager of operations, David Ingham (pictured), said the club was pleased to offer a respite and help to the local communities.

“We hope we can entertain the communities from those flood-ravaged towns and give them a day to forget about the struggles of the past few weeks,” he said.

“Our whole organisation wanted to help out those affected by doing some fundraising, which will hopefully help with the clean-up and assist the communities in returning to normal life.”

Opals Bronze Medallist at the FIBA World Cup in Sydney and reigning WNBL MVP Anneli Maley leads the Spirit which has regained Kelsey Griffin and Kelly Wilson from Canberra, to build around Abbey Wehrung, Megan McKay, Alex Wilson, Alicia Froling as Bendigo seeks a return to the league's upper echelons. Tip-off Sunday is 2pm.