Opals star Alice Kunek to return for Eltham Wildcats’ NBL1 finals chase

Sitting just outside the top eight, Eltham Wildcats have received a massive boost in its battle to make the playoffs with Opals guard Alice Kunek returning to her junior club.

Alice Kunek will return to Eltham Wildcats. Picture: Rob Leeson

Eltham Wildcats’ finals hopes received a massive boost with the return of Alice Kunek for the remainder of the NBL1 campaign.

The Opals guard will suit up for the Wildcats after returning from Australia’s fourth-place finish at the 3x3 World Cup in the Netherlands.

It’s a timely addition for Eltham, which is riding a four-game losing streak.

The Wildcats’ guard stocks have also been decimated in recent weeks with Abbey Ellis taking up a scholarship at Cal Poly University in the US and Rachel Jeffery injuring her knee.

Coach Grant Spencer was looking forward to having Kunek back.

Alice Kunek in action for Perth Lynx in the WNBL. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“Someone of her standard and level is always going to be a great thing for us,” he said.

“The girls are really glad to have her come in.

“It’s my job to try and minimise the disruption. Alice hasn’t trained with us, and to try and integrate her isn’t an easy task.”

Kunek is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and FIBA Asian Championships silver medallist with the Opals.

The Wildcats junior will also be available for finals after a Basketball Victoria ruling.

“With Basketball Victoria allowing us to use her games for Australia to count, you need eight games to qualify for finals,” Spencer said.

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“The ruling is if any of your players are on national duties, those weeks you play without her — if she’s registered — count.”

With five games to go, Eltham sits ninth, a game behind Albury-Wodonga for the last spot in the finals.

“We’re on a four-game losing stretch, which is our biggest of the season,” he said

“We were in a really good position, sitting at 7-4, but now we’re 7-8 and in serious risk of losing our playoff spot.”

Eltham host Bendigo Braves on Saturday before clashes against Albury-Wodonga, BA COE, Nunawading and Melbourne Tigers.