Gems eye our talent

THE green and gold is within touching distance for Eve Braslis and the power forward will throw it all on the line to capture a place in the Australian Gems team bound for India.

The 17-year-old has been named in a squad of 22 alongside fellow former Bellarine Storm and Supercats player Agnes Emma-Nnopu for the 2018 Under-18 Asian Championships.

The pair will have a threeday camp in Canberra in August to convince selectors they are worthy for the touring 12.

“I just want to go out there and do my best and see how far I can go,” Braslis said.

“I haven’t been up for selection before, so I’m pretty nervous about it.

“It would just be an absolute honour to play for Australia in my age group and it’s a dream really to be able to go there and try to do my best at the tryouts”.

Braslis said her Supercats SEABL experience this year following time in the Vic Country National Intensive Training Program was the secret to her call-up, but had more up her sleeve for the training camp.

“I think I’ve got just over a month for the tryouts, so I’m just going to train every day, get in the gym, keep my fitness up, get on court working on my defence, speed and just try to get the edge on other girls in my position,” she said.

“It’s really about preparation for me to go there and show what I can offer.”

Emma-Nnopu, who is in the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence program, was part of the winning Australian team at the 2017 Under-16 Asian Championships.

Supercats women’s coach Dave Herbert, who has been named as Gems’ assistant coach, said it was a testament to their hard work, particularly from Braslis outside the national set up.

“Eve is someone that hasn’t been on the radar, but her performance in the SEABL at varying times throughout the year and the past two years, her stakes have gone up and she’s done very well to be recognised,” he said.