It was not the dream send-off that former majority owners in the New Zealand Breakers would have hoped for.
But when the team slumped to a 114-107 defeat against the Adelaide 36ers earlier this year, Paul and Liz Blackwell would not have been disappointed in their record-breaking team.
Their stewardship saw the Breakers build a reputation as New Zealand’s most successful sporting franchise both on and off the court.
After 13 years they passed the reins to new investors in the form of a consortium headed by former NBA player Matt Walsh and business partners Adam Goodman, Romie Chaudhari and NBA All-Star Shawn Marion.
Nevertheless, Paul remains as a director and minority shareholder.
After leaving St Peters College, Paul joined the Farmers Trading Co, where he quickly rose to store manager. He left in 1987 and bought a bookshop in Matamata, followed by buying Matamata New World in 1993.
That evolved into owning one of the busiest supermarkets in the country with the lucrative Albany Pak’nSave. Paul Blackwell was recently awarded the Foodstuffs North Island's Co-operative Spirit Award for setting "the highest of operational standards for the PAK’nSAVE banner for a number of years and is always happy to help or share information with any member." Blackwell also won a Blake Leader Award last year.
The investment company belonging to Paul and Liz Blackwell, Takapuna Investments, is a 49.5% shareholder in PQ Blackwell, a publishing company Paul launched with his brother Geoff and editor Ruth Hobday back in 2003. It has now rebranded as Blackwell and Ruth.
Geoff has been the driving force behind this business and his big breakthrough came in 2007 when he published Diana: The Portrait, the only book to be fully endorsed by the late princess' estate.
PQ Blackwell also owns Milk Tailor Made Books, a print-on-demand photo book business.
The Blackwells were a founding sponsor of the Force Netball team in 2000, providing donations to help ensure the North Shore-based team could survive.
They also support the Well Foundation, the official fundraising body for the Waitemata DHB along with the YES Disability Centre, the Heart Kids of New Zealand and Starship Hospital.
2018: $65 million