Star Goulding out to keep good times rolling
BASKETBALL TROPHY-HUNTER Chris Goulding is not done yet. Not by a long shot.
Fresh from leading Melbourne United to the 2017-18 NBL title and claiming the Larry Sengstock Medal for grand final MVP, Goulding has his sights firmly set on Commonwealth Games gold.
The Rio Olympian secured the first NBL championship ring of his career after his 19 first-half points helped United capture game five of the thrilling grand final series in Melbourne on Saturday night.
The shooting guard will link with the rest of the Boomers squad in Cairns tomorrow, with the gold medal favourites to play their opening pool game against Canada on Friday.
Goulding was proudly wearing his new jewellery yesterday but celebration mode will quickly turn to helping bring glory to the green and gold.
“After a lot of years in the league, it’s amazing to have a championship ring on my finger, so I’m just savouring this feeling right now,” he said.
“The attention will switch to the Commonwealth Games pretty soon though. There’s one aim for the Games and that’s to bring the gold medal home for Australia.”
Goulding – who made his NBL debut for the Brisbane Bullets – played for the nowdefunct Gold Coast Blaze.
“To represent your country is always really special but to do it on home soil and at a place where you’ve spent some time is a real honour,” he said.
Goulding went toe-to-toe with several Boomers teammates during the NBL grand final series against Adelaide and expects 36ers players Nathan Sobey, Mitch Creek and Matt Hodgson to rebound quickly on the national team.
“Getting into that Boomers environment and turning their focus to the Commonwealth Games will probably help them get over the disappointment,” he said.