Mackay basketball will be represented on the biggest international stage after Olympic committee announced Opals squad

The Australian Olympic Committee has announced the Opals squad for Tokyo, with Mackay basketball heavily selected in the side.

Matthew Forrest

2 min read

May 26, 2021 - 10:03AM

Meteorettes Centre Cayla George has been selected for the Opals squad at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Stewart McLean

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Mackay will be well represented at the Tokyo Olympics, with a Meteorette and two Mackay natives selected for the Opals.

Centre Cayla George was selected to represent Australia at her second Olympics after strong performances this season for Mackay.

Mackay-born Marianna Tolo will also play for the Opals in Tokyo, while Sandy Brondello will coach the side at her first Olympics.

George is averaging 21.3 points and 17.6 rebounds a game so far in the NBL1 season, leading the Meteorettes to two wins from three games this season.

Meteorettes coach Scott McKenzie said George had put the work in and deserved selection.

“She’s been going fantastically so far, and she’s a big part of our early season form,” he said.

“We’re all very excited for her selection in the squad.”

Tokyo will be George’s second Olympics after her selection in the Opals side that finished fifth at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.

Australia’s fifth place in 2016 snapped a streak of five consecutive Olympic medals the Opals won.

McKenzie said he expected George to be a valuable part of any medal prospects.

“She’s been a very solid member of the group in recent years, and she should be a part of the starting side I would think,” McKenzie said.

“Her goal was to be there and play a strong role for the Opals, so we’re so excited for her to get there.

“When we signed George, we knew she was a good chance to get selected, and we knew we would miss her for a part of the season.”

George will miss a large portion of the NBL1 season while on Olympic duties, however McKenzie said the side had prepared for her absence.

“She brings so much to the floor, so it will be considerably more difficult without her,” he said.

“Skye Rees will come into the starting group to fill Cayla’s position, but everyone will have to share the load both offensively and defensively.”

Marianna Tolo has been called up to the Opals team for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Tolo will also play in her second Olympics after featuring alongside George in 2016.

She averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds at Rio after missing London’s 2012 games with a knee injury.

Sandy Brondello will also represent Mackay as the head coach after playing for the Opals at four Olympics.

Tokyo will be Brondello’s first Olympics as a coach but she is Australia’s third-most capped player in Opal history.

Mackay legend Sandy Brondello is head coach of the Opals. Picture: Jerad Williams

Brondello said she was excited about the team’s prospects.

“We have good size, speed, toughness, versatility and experience which will all be required in a high-pressure situation,” she said.

“I feel we have named a very balanced team that will be able to adapt to any style of play we will confront in Tokyo.

“We are all excited about the journey that lies ahead.”

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