By Brendon Egan

Slam-dunk machine Sylvester Spicer has answered an SOS call from the Southland Sharks and will rejoin the injury-hit basketball team on Friday.

The American power forward played the first six games of the season for the Sharks as a short-term replacement for former NBA player Kaniel Dickens, who was finishing up his playing commitments in Italy.

With Dickens suffering a season-ending knee injury in Friday night’s win over Auckland, Southland frantically got in touch with Spicer, who will fly back to New Zealand and be available for Saturday’s away game against the Nelson Giants.

National Basketball League rules state that a player must have played five regular season games to be eligible for the top-six playoffs, which made Spicer the obvious replacement.

Southland has had a wretched run with injuries this season with American combo guard and New Zealand Breakers championship winner Kevin Braswell also ruled out for the remainder of the campaign three weeks ago, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Starters Brendon Polyblank and Gareth Dawson have also had to sit out games through sickness or injury.

Sharks general manager Jill Bolger said the franchise had crunched the numbers and weighed up whether or not to play with a second American import over the final three weeks of the season and had decided it was in its best interests.

Southland are one game away from qualifying for the playoffs and Bolger said it was important to have a full-strength squad at their disposal.

“It was a no-brainer. We have to continue to support the team as much as we can … It’s been disappointing that we’ve had injuries to these key players. It’s been quite stressful.”

The 24-year-old Spicer, who has also played professionally in Portugal and Israel, averaged 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Sharks earlier in the season. He was starting to produce his best basketball for the team before his departure – scoring 44 points in his last two appearances for the team.

Spicer gives the Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks another big body up front and will be crucial to the team’s fortunes over the rest of the season with his rebounding and ability to dominate in the low post.

Southland coach Richard Dickel was relieved they would have two American imports for their run into the playoffs and said it was great to get someone who knew the Sharks’ systems and players already.

“I’m really thankful for the board for making that happen. It makes it a little bit easier. It’s a shame to see (Dickens) go, but we’re incredibly lucky with what’s happened. (Spicer) brings a lot with his rebounding, defence and finishing around the basket. He gets up and down the floor really well.”

Dickel had never experienced such a nightmare injury run during his playing or coaching career and said it had been character building for his side.

“This team had every excuse to roll over and die, but it’s not in our way. Very few teams could come through the amount of injury and sickness we’ve had this year.”

Meanwhile, the Southland Charitable Foodbank Trust confirmed it had been presented with over 500 cans of food and a donation of $813 from the Sharks’ foodbank appeal at Friday night’s game.

Charitable Trust chairman Peter Swain was delighted with the response and said it would be a huge help for its winter stocks.

“I’m quite surprised. It’s very good to see sports and the welfare community teaming up together. It’s come at a good time and we greatly appreciate their efforts.”