FRESH off representing her home country in the AfroBasket Qualifiers in February, one of Geelong United’s newest recruits is settling in well as a Supercat in 2023.<\/p>\n
Geelong United forward Nyidier Riak said it was a surreal experience to represent South Sudan at the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers, helping her country to a third place finish, but her sights were now set on helping the Supercats back to the NBL1 South Finals.<\/p>\n
“Across the first four games of the season, you can see how quickly we’re coming together as players and as a unit, which has been super important given we are quite undermanned at the moment,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We all have a common goal, which is why we have had a bunch of success to this point, the system we have is working and we are all very focused in getting the job done.”<\/p>\n
Riak has enjoyed a modest start to her NBL1 23 campaign, joining the Supercats after a season in Adelaide at the Woodville Warriors, and averaging 3.5 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, and 14 minutes per game.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old also forms a critical piece in head coach Matt Paton’s frontcourt alongside fellow recruits Ella Tofaeono and Monica Okoye.<\/p>\n
The trio has a had a large contribution in Geelong United’s success to start the season, with two wins and two losses through three rounds.<\/p>\n
“The physicality and effort you see out of those two women is virtually unmatched, I just think the amount of effort is evident in the numbers both of them put up,” Riak added.<\/p>\n
“It was actually Jess Scannell that reached out to me initially encouraging me to try out, which is where I get to meet Matt, and the conversations just built up since then.<\/p>\n
“The culture of Geelong was a major selling point of Matt’s and I just needed a positive environment to develop my game further.”<\/p>\n
Riak said she didn’t begin taking basketball “seriously” until the age of 18, but said setting a role model example for the junior players of the region was high on her list of priorities.<\/p>\n
“It’s a huge priority for us to perform, we play for the younger generations, so they can see us continue to improve and get better and evolve as women.<\/p>\n
“The advice I give to younger girls, is to set your own goals and create your own path, just work on that and everything will come together.”<\/p>\n
Geelong United host Frankston this Saturday, April 29 at 5pm and 7pm.<\/p>\n
For tickets, head to geelongunitedbasketball.com.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FRESH off representing her home country in the AfroBasket Qualifiers in February, one of Geelong United’s newest recruits is settling in well as a Supercat in 2023. Geelong United forward Nyidier Riak said it was a surreal experience to represent South Sudan at the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers, helping her country to a third place […]<\/p>\n