Video | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

New Zealand Breakers coach Mody Maor has welcomed a Basketball Australia (BA) investigation into his public criticism of NBL referees and vowed never to change his outspoken manner. Maor was ejected at halftime in the Breakers' win over Adelaide on Thursday after being slapped with two technical fouls for remonstrating with referees on the court. The fiery exchange came just days after NBL chief executive David Stevenson declared there would be no tolerance of abuse towards officials this season. After Thursday's game, an unrepentant Maor said he felt his ejection was unwarranted and that the lopsided foul count - it was 16-6 against his side at halftime and finished 26-15 - was an issue that needed addressing. The coach has since been asked to explain his actions and faces a possible fine or suspension for breaking BA's code of conduct if he cannot come up with a satisfactory response. Maor was back at the helm for his team's 90-79 road loss to South East Melbourne on Saturday and was quizzed afterwards about the ongoing saga. "I'm happy to explain everything I said because I think I conducted myself perfectly in the situation," Maor told reporters. "I'm happy that this is something that people want to look at. "Hopefully this is something that everybody learns from." Asked whether the BA investigation would lead Maor to alter his approach, the coach was blunt. "What do you think? Nothing will change me," he said. Maor was again visibly frustrated by calls that went against the Breakers in Melbourne but kept a lid on his emotions. There were some dicey moments early in the game as starters Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Finn Delany both got into foul trouble. But Maor wasn't willing to discuss the officiating post-match. "Next question. I'm happy with my money in my wallet," he said. On Thursday, Maor raised eyebrows with his post-game comments, adamant he didn't deserve to be tossed out over the altercation with referees. "Every game we're playing now we're playing for our lives," he said. "I probably deserved one technical foul. "There's a way things are done in professional basketball and ejecting me over the conversation we had at halftime, when I didn't curse, is completely against everything." Australian Associated Press

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