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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Blicavs has only been able to suit up three times so far this WNBL season, but when she has played, she has been impressive.<\/p>\n
In the Flyers opener, she scored 27 points and accumulated nine rebounds in the Flyers’ round 1 win.<\/p>\n
“I’ve played eight full games in a whole year,” Blicavs said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Blicavs was one of four Flyers to be named to the training squad alongside Bec Cole, Maddison Rocci and Abby Bishop.<\/p>\n
She also heads to New South Wales with former Supercats teammates Ezi Magbegor and Zitina Aokuso.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Blicavs and her Flyers play against the Sydney Uni Flames this Sunday in Sydney before starting the Opals training camp the following day.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n