ACUVUE Sydney Uni Flame, Eva Afeaki, is one step closer to her Olympic dream of playing for the Opals in 2012.
Afeaki will join fellow Flame, Alicia Poto, in the 2009 Australian women’s basketball squad.
I am really happy to make the team, as it was my ultimate goal going into the 2008-2009 season. I’m looking forward to attending the camp, training hard, and stepping forward to be a part of any camp that tours,’ Afeaki said.
The 184cm Afeaki scored an average of 15.6 points a game , as well as grabbing an impressive average of 6.4 rebounds per game, proving a strong offensive and defensive presence throughout the season.
Afeaki has been pushing herself in post WNBL season training, working hard with Sydney Uni’s Strength and Conditioning coach, Marty Harland.
Alicia Poto, a veteran with 103 senior games for Australia under her belt, hopes to continue with her great form – after being rewarded for her excellent contribution to the WNBL season, winning the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Poto’s tenacious defense restricted her opponents and disrupted the play of opposition teams throughout the season. The 166cm point guard grabbed a career high 53 steals in the season to lead the league at an average of 2.5 steals per game and tallied 75 rebounds at an average of 3.6 rebounds per game.
The girls will attend the first Opals camp of the 2009 campaign at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from April 2-5.
The 2009 Opals campaign will include tours to Europe as well as qualification games on home soil against New Zealand for the right to contest the 2010 FIBA World Cup Championship.
The next 6 months will be an exciting time for me as coach to get my teeth into the Opals program and to really see who the developing Opal players are and whether they can push their way into the team for 2010 and 2012,’ said new Opals head coach Carrie Graf.
For more information contact:
Shari Wakefield – Communications & Publications Co-ordinator, Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness
Phone: 0407 668 312, Email: [email protected], Web: http://www.susf.com.au/
