Taipans keen on Aleer for NBL

BASKETBALL: Paul Aleer will take to the court in Cairns tonight with more than just points for the Toowoomba Mountaineers on his mind.

After a storming start to the QBL season, the towering forward has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs in the country.

Specifically, the NBL’s Cairns Taipans.

“Paul has had some interest from the Cairns NBL coach in terms of an opportunity there,” Mountaineers men’s coach Anthony Corcoran said.

“He will be at the game to have a look and Paul is acutely aware of the opportunity that exists if he does what he needs to do.”

Corcoran rates him as one of the league’s brightest home-grown talents, and believes his young star is ready to make the step up into the big leagues, with another Toowoomba talent to follow not far behind him.

Manylok Malek has also answered the call from his coach this season to bring more points to the team, averaging at least 30 minutes of court time per game despite struggling with injury.

“He (Aleer) is averaging a double-double every week and there are not many guys who can do that for the whole season so that indicates where he’s at,” he said.

“It would be great if they could both get a look in because I believe they are ready and they both have a great work ethic.”

Both have a golden opportunity to prove their NBL credentials against the Cairns Marlins in the QBL tonight as the duo looks to find a path to the NBL next season.

“They can’t make the sessions with the Brisbane Bullets during the week so this is another avenue for them to make the NBL,” Corcoran said.