Blicavs looking to regain consistency at coming Opals training camp

DESPITE playing just eight full games in the last calendar year, it hasn’t stopped Geelong Supercats star Sara Blicavs from earning the chance to fight for a spot in the Opals squad at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Serbia next month.

It was announced just over a week ago that Tokyo Olympian and WNBL champion Blicavs would be a part of the 16-woman squad that will hit out at the training camp in Sydney between January 31 and February 4 for 12 available slots at the coming FIBA tournament.

The training camp provides Blicavs the opportunity to get what has been an interrupted start to the 2021-22 WNBL campaign with the Southside Flyers back on track after being out of action due to COIVD-19 protocols.

Blicavs has only been able to suit up three times so far this WNBL season, but when she has played, she has been impressive.

In the Flyers opener, she scored 27 points and accumulated nine rebounds in the Flyers’ round 1 win.

“I’ve played eight full games in a whole year,” Blicavs said.

“So, I haven’t played much at all and my WNBL season has been super interrupted being out with a back injury and isolating for a whole week missing a few games, which isn’t the greatest preparation leading into camp.

“But I’m there to bring experience now, focus on my game, play freely and without a care in the world. It will also be great to get a few more games and training sessions under my belt.”

Blicavs was one of four Flyers to be named to the training squad alongside Bec Cole, Maddison Rocci and Abby Bishop.

She also heads to New South Wales with former Supercats teammates Ezi Magbegor and Zitina Aokuso.

“It’s a very talented list going up to Sydney, it’s super-athletic and there’s a new wave of young girls starting to come through the Opals which is really good,” Blicavs said.

“You can tell [head coach] Sandy Brondello has based the squad off of WNBL performances, which makes everyone there very deserving and having already proved themselves.

“It’s looking like it will be a really strong team and a really fun camp, then if I get selected it will be a really good tournament in Serbia.”

Blicavs and her Flyers play against the Sydney Uni Flames this Sunday in Sydney before starting the Opals training camp the following day.

The World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Serbia will take place between February 10 and 13, with the Opals to play Serbia, Brazil, and South Korea in Group A.