Dandenong Rangers forward Sara Blicavs added to Opals on eve of WNBL trip back to Adelaide for Lightning rematch

ADELAIDE Lightning’s chances of repeating their shock 72-70 WNBL home win over Dandenong again tomorrow have taken a sideways jolt with Rangers star Sara Blicavs elevated to the Opals.

Sara Blicavs in Opals action, taking on Japan's Mio Shinozaki. Blicavs is back in the squad. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

ADELAIDE Lightning’s chances of repeating their shock 72-70 WNBL home win over Dandenong again tomorrow have taken a sideways jolt with Rangers star Sara Blicavs elevated to the Opals.

Blicavs had 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as Dandenong last month looked about to put Lightning away at Adelaide Arena, before the talented 188cm forward fouled out.

The Rangers, in fourth spot, will look at that Adelaide reversal as a setback to cementing their playoff aspirations and already come with plenty of motivation for the rematch at the Lighthouse in Wayville. Now the one player Adelaide had most difficulty with will be buoyed by the honour of being named in the Australian team to leave for Rio on Sunday.

Blicavs (pronounced Blitz-arves), the daughter of dual-Woollacott Medallist and one-time Boomers captain Andris and sister of Mark, who last year won Geelong’s best and fairest AFL medal, has replaced Melbourne Boomers guard Tess Madgen.

“Tess’ ankle injury is a serious one and it’s just not coming up,” Opals coach Brendan Joyce said. “We’ve got two games in two nights and consecutive days of training.”

The Opals’ first match is on Friday-week against Argentina and they will play the next night against Venezuela.

They finish the tour, ostensibly arranged as a “test event” of facilities ahead of the Rio Olympic Games, against Brazil on January 17.

The Opals have training camps in March and April, with tours of Japan and Europe this year.

“Sara is coming off an impressive European tour,” Joyce said.

“She practised well in our camps and played very well against Japan and Korea ahead of Oceania.

“She’s coming along in leaps and bounds.”

Blicavs was part of the Opals team which swept aside New Zealand 2-0 to clinch last year’s Oceania Series, which meant automatic qualification for Rio.

The team for the test event is: Rebecca Allen (SEQ Stars), Suzy Batkovic (Townsville Fire), Abby Bishop (University of Canberra Capitals), Sara Blicavs (Dandenong Rangers), Natalie Burton (Perth Lynx), Katie-Rae Ebzery (Sydney University Flames), Cayla George (Townsville Fire), Rachel Jarry (SEQ Stars), Tessa Lavey (Perth Lynx), Leilani Mitchell (MAC Adelaide Lightning), Erin Phillips (Los Angeles Sparks), Stephanie Talbot (University of Canberra Capitals). Coach: Brendan Joyce. Assistants: Damian Cotter, Lori Chizik, Scott Butler.

Originally published as Dandenong Rangers forward Sara Blicavs added to Opals on eve of WNBL trip back to Adelaide for Lightning rematch