South East Melbourne Phoenix’ Angus Glover reveals friend’s devastating diagnosis fuels hunger to win

Amid a devastating diagnosis to his ‘second dad’, Angus Glover is plotting the NBL finals demise of his hometown club as he leads his southern raiders into familiar, but hostile territory.

Wollongong born and bred Angus Glover is “out for blood” against his hometown team – even if it means breaking the heart of his “second dad”.

The South East Melbourne guard will step onto WIN Entertainment Centre for Friday night’s semi-final series opener against Illawarra in familiar surroundings as a former Hawk who spent much of his early life around the club.

Among family and friends in the crowd will be well-known Hawkhead Graham Lancaster, who recently received a devastating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis – a form of nervous system disease.

But Glover – who, on his last visit to the ‘Gong, gifted Lancaster his basketball shoes, signed by every Hawk and every Phoenix player – says the Viking-helmet-wearing superfan is “kicking its arse” and reckons his allegiances will be a little torn.

South East Melbourne guard Angus Glover gifted Hawks superfan Graham Lancaster a pair of his sneakers, signed by every Hawk and every Phoenix player. Picture: Supplied

“Graham’s whole family has been a big part of my life, I played junior basketball and went to primary school with his son Pat and he’s my best man at my wedding coming up,” Glover said.

“He’s like my second dad and our families are inseparable.

“I think he’s quite happy with the fact that at least one of his teams are going to play in a grand final – obviously, he’s an Illawarra fan, but he’s a South East Melbourne fan because of me as well.

“For me, some things are bigger than basketball at the end of the day and what Graham and the family is going through is one of them.

“I just hope he keeps kicking its (ALS) arse – and I hope he knows that I’m trying to take his team down.”

South East Melbourne guard Angus Glover and Illawarra superfan Graham Lancaster. Picture: Supplied

‘GOOD. DO IT’: GLOVE’S MESSAGE FOR THE DOUBTERS

Glover’s one of the few Phoenix players who knows what it takes to win an NBL title – he has two of them in a Sydney Kings uniform.

“I’m coming out for blood, I want to win this series so bad and go to another grand final,” he said.

He’s happy for the doubters to underrate the Phoenix, who enter as underdogs after finishing fourth and fighting through two qualifying games for the right to take on the top-of-the-table Hawks.

Yam it on em, Gus! Picture: Getty Images

A fired Angus Glover will be looking to deliver the knockout to Illawarra. Picture: Getty Images

It’s a miracle they’re anywhere near the finals after an 0-5 start but Glover has a message for anyone who thinks the series is over before it begins.

“I’m sure a lot of people are probably writing us off and good, do it,” a defiant Glover said.

“We’re one of the only teams to make the top four after a 0-5 start.

“We’re not done yet.”

There’s a bit of synergy between Glover, who has fought back from three separate knee reconstructions, and the Phoenix. Both player and club are working-class, Aussie battler types with chips on their shoulders who embrace the underdog tag.

“I think it’s a good match, to be honest,” he said.

“This club’s copped it over the years with injuries but the way this club’s turned it around this year is unbelievable.”

CONFIDENCE IS KING

Like the Phoenix, Glover’s turned it around, too.

Playing the best basketball of his career, Glover’s handling the ball and initiating a lot more than he ever has in his eight-season career and shooting the three with Steph Curry-like confidence.

Chalk a lot of it up to a reinvigorated mindset.

Even when he was winning titles in Sydney, Glover admits he was hampered by overthinking.

“Yeah, at times, (I’ve been a) massive (overthinker),” Glover said.

“I’m still a bit of an overthinker, but it’s night and day now and my mental side to the game this year and how I’ve gone about things, I’ve taken a big step forward.

“Even in these two weeks that we have had off, I’m focusing on Illawarra but I’m not trying to play the game a week before.”

Phoenix coach Josh King has been credited with instilling belief in the Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Josh King’s faith has been key.

“Josh instilled so much confidence in me to be aggressive and that it’s okay to make a mistake, but just make quick decisions,” he said.

“You can see a lot of players have got a lot of confidence through Josh just giving them the green light to go out and play aggressive and it’s been a recipe for success.”

Ask most of the Phoenix boys and they will tell you Glover is the ‘coach’s pet’ – King’s favourite.

But he reckons it’s a battle with fellow guard Owen Foxwell.

“Unfortunately, I do cop it from the boys and especially early on,” Glover said.

“But I’ll put Foxy right up there right now.”

WHAT IS ALS?

Formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function.

In this disease, nerve cells break down, which reduces functionality in the muscles that they supply. The cause is unknown.

The main symptom is muscle weakness.

Medication and therapy can slow ALS and reduce discomfort, but there is no cure

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Originally published as South East Melbourne Phoenix’ Angus Glover reveals friend’s devastating diagnosis fuels hunger to win