Belinda Snell firing for Sydney Uni Flames ahead of Grand Final rematch
BELINDA Snell reckons it could be the company she keeps but at 36 she isn’t feeling her age on or off the basketball court
Women's sport
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OPAL Belinda Snell reckons it could be the company she keeps but at 36 she isn’t feeling her age on or off the basketball court.
Just one week into the Sydney Uni Flames’ title defence, Snell is already beating the young guns in the WNBL at their own game.
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The Flames captain was named in the first Team of the Week for her efforts in Sydney’s defeat of Perth and loss to Adelaide in round one of the national women’s basketball competition.
Snell averaged 17 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the opening round road double.
The honour comes just months after Snell, cut from the Opals prior to the Rio Olympics, received an unexpected call-up to national duties in the crucial Asia Cup tournament in July.
“This team keeps me young, it’s exciting,’’ said Snell of a Flames outfit whose biggest roster loss after winning the last WNBL title was Opal Leilani Mitchell, who decided to play in Turkey.
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“I’m not feeling my age out there. I feel like I still have plenty to offer.’’
The 2016/17 WNBL Champions return home to Brydens Stadium on Saturday night to host the Dandenong Rangers in a rematch of last year’s Grand Final.
The Flames won their first WNBL crown in 16 seasons when they claimed the Grand Final series 2-0 against the Rangers.
Snell was the only member of the team to have played in both premiership-winning sides for the Flames.
“They have a different look with quite a few changes but they will also be ready for some revenge,’’ Snell said.
“It’s going to be tough but we really want to win at home.’’
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SATURDAY
WNBL round two
Sydney Uni Flames v Dandenong Rangers (7pm, Brydens Stadium, Sydney)