A wildcard entry to the National Junior Basketball Championships in Melbourne has left ten promising Mackay hoopers brimming with excitement.
The Mackay Meteors Under 14 Boys representative team will get the chance to rub shoulders with the finest basketball talent in their age group when they trek down south next month to compete at the prestigious carnival from September 23-29.
Mackay Basketball Association was quick to snap up an invitation to participate at the national titles after the late withdrawal of the Northern Territory squad.
It follows the Meteors’ strong performances at this year’s State Under 14 Championships in Townsville where they finished fourth under the guidance of Head Coach Francis Moala and Assistant Coach Jamie Novosel.
The young Meteors were formed as a representative team back in February and have shown plenty of raw talent under the expert coaching of Moala and Novosel.
They defeated Cairns and Townsville to clinch the Top of the North junior basketball series before making an impression with skilful performances at the State Championships.
This year’s Under 14 Meteors squad is comprised of juniors from the Renegades, Souths, Whitsunday, Magpies and North Mackay Magic clubs.
Rising prospects like guard Will Di Filippo, Archie Rooney, Sam Osborne, Jude Novosel, Parker Coleman, Caleb Cassells, Ryan Mapes, Harrison Bell, Coby Hughes and Lachlan Dore are relishing the opportunity to show their wares in Melbourne.
Three team members – Di Filippo, Rooney and Novosel – have family links to the Meteors franchise.
The young guns are the nephews of Mackay’s 2012 QBL championship-winning star trio Ryan Di Filippo, Luke Harvey and Mitch Gamblin.
Former Meteors back courter Gamblin – an uncle of Jude - gave the club sterling service as a star defender from 2010 to 2018 as did Archie’s uncle - power forward Harvey along with Will’s uncle Ryan Di Filippo.
In a cruel blow, promising junior Munotendwa Mhashu will miss the Championships due to injury.
Mackay Meteors talented Under 14 boys representative team will compete at the upcoming National Under 14 Junior Basketball Championships in Melbourne
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