Suzy Batkovic celebrates Opals re-call by leading Townsville past Sydney Flames

MULTIPLE WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic has celebrated her return to the Opals fold by leading Townsville Fire past Sydney Uni Flames.

WNBL legend Suzy Batkovic finished with a double-double. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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MULTIPLE WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic has celebrated her return to the Opals fold by leading her team back into the winners circle against old nemesis, the Sydney Uni Flames.

The Townsville Fire star topscored for her club as it levelled the series with the Flames in a 88-85 thriller in Sydney.

Batkovic, who ended the game with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, earned an Opals recall on Friday and will attend a training camp in Italy in February ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

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The 36-year-old warhorse of Australian basketball was controversially dumped from the national program prior to last years Olympic Games where the Opals failed to advance past the quarter-finals despite heading to Rio as major medal contenders.

WNBL legend Suzy Batkovic finished with a double-double. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But under new coach Sandy Brondello, Batkovic and fellow multiple Olympian and Flames captain Belinda Snell - both old teammates of Brondello’s - have been welcomed back to the Australian squad.

Batkovic on Saturday showed she still has plenty to give as Townsville held off an inspired Flames comeback in the final period for the three point win.

“We just can’t afford to be losing matches like that or we will find ourselves in trouble,” said Flames coach Cheryl Chambers.

“Townsville’s backs were against the wall in that one and they showed how bad they wanted it.”

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Adding to the Flames’ woes is an eye injury to star import Asia Taylor which saw her leave the court in pain and with her eye socket swollen in the final period.

Both sides went into the clash off unexpected losses with the Flames beaten by Adelaide on Thursday, the same night Fire fell to Dandenong.

Suzy Batkovic drains a jump shot. Picture: Lawrence Surgers

In a scrappy first quarter, Fire opened up an early 12 point lead before the Flames reeled them back to a more acceptable 26-18 lead at the break.

The Sydney side drew level for the first time three minutes into the new period but again lost momentum to trail 38-47 at halftime.

Batkovic topscored in the first half with 14 points and seven rebounds with Katie Rae Ebzery best for the Flames with 13.

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Both teams came out of the change rooms ready to play in the second half as the Flames again clawed their way back from a substantial deficit to level midway through the period before leaving the court trailing by 10 at three quarter time.

But the Sydney side rallied to almost take the match off Fire who held strong at the end to level the series with the defending WNBL champions.

The Flames will now prepare for another two-game round with their next match against Canberra on the road on Thursday before taking on Perth Lynx at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday in a double-header with the Sydney Kings.