WIMMERA basketballer Shane McDonald will not play in Australia's National Basketball League this season after his team, Singapore Slingers, announced it would quit the competition.

But McDonald, 23, will not be out of a job because the owners of the team plan on playing a series of matches against top Asian and Australian sides for prize money.

McDonald, from Horsham, said he had initially been disappointed to not be in the NBL.

"It caught me off guard when they told us," McDonald said. "I had signed a new contract early in the off-season under the proviso that they would be playing in the NBL."

He said the Slingers were financially strong but had asked the NBL to help pay for rising travel costs but the NBL had refused.

"It is a shame the league didn't come to the party," McDonald said. "But we have been guaranteed to play 15 home matches.

"Most NBL teams have filled their rosters by now so there are not many options."

McDonald said the players had been treated well by the Slingers.

"When we were told all the players were offered a chance to tear up their contracts," he said.

"We have even been offered a chance to add bonuses to our contracts for these matches."

The details of the Slingers matches are still being sorted out. McDonald said he would make the best of the situation.

"The details are not set in cement yet but we have been told we will be playing for prize money of $10,000 to $15,000 a match," he said. "I am just going to treat it as a new life experience.

"I have eight months left on contract and then I will see what my options are. The NBL is on shaky ground at the moment anyway so at least I am guaranteed a job playing basketball."

Roy Ward