OPALS EXTENDED SQUAD ANNOUNCED | Basketball Australia

Basketball Australia (BA) has introduced the prolonged Seven Consulting Opals squad. Coming off the heels of their rose-gold finale in opposition to Canada on the FIBA Girls’s World Cup in October, the Opals will look to proceed a podium-finishing streak within the 2023 Asia Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.

All squad members might be making their strategy to a camp on the AIS Nationwide Coaching Centre in Canberra in March, apart from Ezi Magbegor (Sopron), Alanna Smith (Sopron), Marianna Tolo (Girona) and Darcee Garbin (DVTK-Hun-Therm), who’re all presently taking part in in Europe.

Rising expertise is on the rise with Isobel Borlase (18), Nyadiew Puoch (18) and Shaneice Swain (19), who’re all current graduates from the Centre of Excellence and already making waves within the WNBL. Sarah Portlock (16) is an thrilling 6ft 7in Centre of Excellence athlete who will be part of the camp to realize useful expertise and an understanding of the distinctive Opals tradition.

Head Coach Sandy Brondello is presently based mostly within the USA and might be heading to Europe previous to returning to Australia for the camp.

“There is no such thing as a doubt the World Cup was incredible, however all our consideration is now firmly on the longer term, and we’ve got some actually thrilling expertise that I look ahead to working with. The camp will give us the chance to carry again our seasoned athletes and blend them with rising expertise in what might be a really aggressive surroundings. We’ve got to maintain investing sooner or later and immersing them within the Opals tradition, in order that they know bodily and mentally what it takes to play on the highest degree.”

“I’ve been watching a number of WNBL video games and I’m actually impressed with the expertise, I look ahead to working with these athletes on the camp. I’ll head to Europe previous to the camp because it’s essential to the touch base with all of the Australians taking part in there and assess the place everyone seems to be at.”

“I’m excited to return to the Centre of Excellence, it’s been some time I’ve to say, I’m positive it’s going to carry again a number of recollections and I really feel actually honoured to be coming again right here as a former graduate and now having the privilege to be teaching the nationwide workforce,” stated Brondello.

The camp might be held on the AIS Nationwide Coaching Centre from March 31-April 5.