Team’s guiding light
Moke happy in mentoring role with Cairns Dolphins
WITH a young and emerging bench, the Cairns Dolphins needed some experience and guidance for their second unit.
Enter: Naomi Moke, nee Pedro.
The former Townsville Fire and Bulleen Boomer in the WNBL has come out of semiretirement to rejoin the Queensland Basketball League team she once player-coached.
The experienced Moke, who last played with the Dolphins in 2014, is enjoying being back with the squad after posting four points and five assists in their big win against South West Metro Pirates in Round 2.
“I have always said I wanted to come back but I was just waiting until my kids were old enough,” Moke said.
“Cairns Basketball has done wonders with their juniors over the last few years, they are brilliant.
“It makes it easy for me to be a mother hen or a mentor for them.
“They all have great attitudes and are a great bunch of girls.
“I am enjoying being back in the fold with them.”
Dolphins coach Mark Worthington said Moke, who was the 2004 youth player of the year in the QBL, has added much-needed experience to the bench.
“She has been a great team player, she is obviously a very skilled player as well,” he said.
“She is only going to get better and better as the season progresses as she likes being around the group.
“She is a good voice for the young girls to sound off as well.”
The Marlins and Dolphins now look towards their first double-header trip of the season, away at Brisbane Capitals on Saturday evening before tackling the Brisbane Spartans on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams are set to be bolstered this weekend with Taipan Jarrad Weeks set to make his QBL debut while the Dolphins are expecting their import to land.