Slammer starting to feel at home for 100th

Developing Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers guard Anton Fimmano feels like he belongs in the SBL as he prepares to play his 100th game for the club.

Fimmano, 20, will reach the milestone when the Slammers take on East Perth at the Eaton Recreation Centre this Saturday night.

The game is one of two this weekend for the Slammers, who also play Rockingham tomorrow night at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

As the Slammers strive to break a 12-year play-offs drought, Fimmano has found himself at the centre of several critical moments.

“At the start of the year I didn’t expect much court time,” he said.

“With the amount of (new) players we have it’s been surprising to be able to contribute to a winning team. It feels really good.

“The more you play you feel like you belong, especially being on the court at the end of games when the game is on the line — I hadn’t done that before.”

It has taken the durable young gun, a Slammers junior product, only four years to rack up the milestone, and he has played every game this season, averaging over three points per game.

“I didn’t really expect to reach it (the milestone) this quickly,” Fimmano said.

“I think playing in bad teams allowed me to get it up.

“It’s a good comp. I try to compare it with the WAFL but it doesn’t get that recognition.”

Slammers’ coach Ty Harrelson was quick to praise Fimmano on reaching 100 games.

“Anton has been a joy to play with and coach this season,” he said.

“He is an outstanding person on and off the court.

“Anton’s commitment to the club has put us in a great position this season, including several game winning plays.”

Fimmano, who grew up in Harvey, started playing with the Slammers’ under-14s team in the WABL and has since moved to Perth for university.

He is one of a handful of the club’s loyal junior products who make the trip down to train twice each week.

“I really didn’t want to play for another SBL club,” he said.

“It would be weird to play against the Slammers seeing as I’ve been there my whole life.”

A victory in either game this weekend will almost cement a play-off position for the Slammers.

They lead ninth-placed Willetton by one win with a game in hand going into this week’s double header.