Taipans eye the prize

Bunbury-raised basketballer Cameron Gliddon is focused solely on leading his team to the ultimate prize.

In his third year as captain of National Basketball League franchise, the Cairns Taipans, Gliddon is looking to create history and bring his club their first championship.

He came close in 2015 when they made the grand final series, only to fall short to the New Zealand Breakers.

The Taipans could not back up their success in the 2015-16 season, finishing sixth.

More disappointment was ahead of Gliddon when he failed to make the final squad for the Australian Basketball Team to play at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

But the 27-year-old has not let any of this get him down and he led the Taipans as they won the first Australian Basketball Championship tournament, being named the Most Valuable Player in the process.

Gliddon said he was confident with the squad they had put together this year a play-offs berth was possible.

“I think we have a great team,” he said.

“We haven’t been ranked well in the pre-season. But no-one every really rates us.

“I think we are finals bound and once you make finals, well anything is possible.”

Gliddon said he had moved on from Olympic selection and was solely focused on the Taipans’ season ahead.

“My focus is strictly on this season,” he said.

“I will just be playing my heart out and putting my hand up for selection in any future tournaments.”

Basketball is on the rise in Australia, with the success of several Australians in the NBA and the success of the Boomers at the Olympic Games putting the sport more in the spotlight.

Gliddon said he had noticed the attention.

“With the Boomers going as well as they did definitely put basketball back on the map in Australia,” he said.

“It just shows people are interested in the sport.”

Come Saturday though Gliddon and fellow Bunbury basketballer Mark Worthington will look to break some hearts of Perth basketball fans when they take on the Wildcats.

Gliddon said despite it being his home State, he did not get too emotional when playing the Wildcats.

“It is fun to play in front of my family and friends,” he said.

“I have never played for Perth but so I don’t have that connection.

“It is just another game in the end.”

Saturday’s game will be the first time Nate Jawai will play against his former team since moving back to Cairns.

Gliddon said Jawai was a great addition to the team, both on and off the court.

“He will bring a lot of fans around to games because he is a home town boy,” he said.

“We lacked a bit of size in the key last season as well so he will help with that.”