Gabriel to grab shot Strong form earns call-up
The Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s QBL side has added another strike-scorer, with shooting guard Kaila Gabriel joining the fray.
Gabriel, born in South Africa, had her first exposure to the sport at a young age.
“When I was younger as a kid, my family wasn’t extremely financially stable," she said.
“My neighbours had a TV and we used to play nearby, but we never had enough money to enrol me in a basketball program.
“When I had the opportunity to play, I loved it from the start.”
When Gabriel moved to Australia, she became familiar with the sport through the Logan Thunder, where she played her junior basketball, and had a particular idol.
“I looked up to Christine
Beal, a WNBL Logan point guard,” she said.
“It was my first club, and I watched her when I first started playing. She was phenomenal at defence and to this day I still try and copy her and play like her.”
Now studying biomedical science at USQ, Gabriel said she enjoyed the switch from Brisbane to Toowoomba.
“Living here, everybody is so welcoming. It’s been a big move, and I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it as much, but it is so peaceful here,” she said.
“Basketball is good relaxation time. I love it so much. It takes the stress away and is my outlet.”
She isn’t a stranger to the Darling Downs, having played a leading role with the Warwick Wildcats in the Big Q last year after co-ordinator Jay Clark asked her to play.
During the season, Gabriel caught the eye of Toowoomba Basketball.
Gabriel will bring an uptempo style of play after a college stint with the Trinidad State Trojans, where she averaged 6.5 points on 41 percent shooting.
She said that experience had helped to shape her game, and was something she hopedto bring to the table for the Mountaineers.
“It was awesome, and everything I was hoping it was going to be. The competitive nature of the sport was incredible, and nobody went easy on you,” she said.
“A lot of the girls have talked about changing the culture, but ever since I’ve seen what the culture is here, it has been nothing but competitive.
“I want to emphasises that as much as I can, and bring a never give up attitude.”