Three-time Paralympian Justin Eveson has been named as Captain of Australia’s men’s wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, for the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
He replaces Brad Ness, the Captain of the Gold Medal winning Rollers team in Beijing who is unavailable due to European club team commitments, and will be assisted in the leadership role by fellow Beijing Gold Medallists Adrian King and Grant Mizens.
The Rollers arrived in Manchester, England, overnight after a weeklong training camp Varese, Italy, and will undergo a practice session today in preparation for Australia’s tournament opener against Germany on Wednesday (10:30pm AET).
Four of the top five teams from the Beijing Paralympic Games will go head-to-head in the three-day wheelchair basketball competition from May 20-23, the biggest international multi-sport event for athletes with a disability outside of the Paralympic Games.
Jeremy Doyle, Kim Robins and John McPhail will make their senior international debut alongside eight Beijing Paralympians and Bill Latham, the last man cut from the Rollers prior to Beijing.
Fitness will be a key factor at the tournament, with the Rollers playing two games on Thursday. They face Beijing Bronze Medallists Great Britain at 11.30am* local time, and then back up six hours later to face the United States at 7.30pm local time.
Semi finals will be played on Friday May 22nd with medal playoffs on Saturday May 23rd.
The Rollers have already had to overcome some challenges while on tour, like losing their luggage en route to Europe and experiencing problems with accessibility to buses.
“Several of the boys did the first few days in Italy pretty tough with no luggage, but in true Rollers style the guys all pitched in and got them through,” Rollers Head Coach Ben Ettridge said.
“We’ve also had some buses that aren’t wheelchair accessible, and when they are, the lift doesn’t work, and when it does, the bus driver won’t allow the wheelchairs on the bus.
“But despite that, we’re ready.”
Fans and media can follow the Rollers’ progress on the Basketball Australia website www.basketball.net.au or on the BT Paralympic World Cup website www.btparalympicworldcup.com
Nb. * Manchester is 9 hours behind Australian Eastern Time.
Australia’s men’s wheelchair basketball team for the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester:
Name |
Club |
Classification |
Dylan Alcott |
Victoria Dandenong Rangers |
1.0 |
Tige Simmons |
Brisbane Spinning Bullets |
1.0 |
Jeremy Doyle |
Sydney Wheelkings |
1.0 |
Adrian King |
Brisbane Spinning Bullets |
2.0 |
Grant Mizens |
Sydney Wheelkings |
2.0 |
Shaun Norris |
Perth Wheelcats |
3.0 |
Kim Robins |
Perth Wheelcats |
3.0 |
John McPhail |
Sydney Wheelkings |
3.0 |
Tristan Knowles |
Woollongong Rollerhawks |
4.0 |
Brett Stibners |
Woollongong Rollerhawks |
4.0 |
Bill Latham |
Sydney Wheelkings |
4.0 |
Justin Eveson |
Perth Wheelcats |
4.5 |
For more information please contact:
Bill Baxter
Basketball Australia
T: 02 9469 7218
M: 0423 378 644
E: bill.baxter@basketball.net.a |
