INSTANTLY CLASSIC!
Instantly Classic!
The McDonalds National Junior Classic begins this weekend at venues across Melbourne, where some of the best boys and girls teams of all age groups in our country will compete to become the last team standing and take h...ome the coveted title of Classic gold medalists. Qualification for the Classic requires teams to be placed in the top 4 of their Victorian Championship (VC) pool at the end of 9 rounds.
Diamond Valley has had 5 gold medalists at the Classic – U14 Girls (2008), U16 Girls (1984), U16 Boys (2013) and U18 Boys (1993, 2003).
We are proud to say that we will be represented by 3 teams in this year’s tournament, commencing this long weekend:
Our U12 Girls, coached by Jacqui O’Neill, who will take a 7, 1 and 1 VC record into the Classic at MSAC. “We finished third in our pool after losing to second place and drawing with first place. We are definitely in with a chance. Being under 12s, lots can change very quickly and we play Knox, who we drew with, in our third game this weekend so I am excited to play them again. The girls have been working hard all year and are definitely the ones to look out for this weekend. Their determination, work ethic and commitment should be commended. We hope and aim to finish in the top 8 and would love to play for a medal but either way I am so proud they have made it this far,” said O’Neill.
Our U18 Girls, coached by Mark Alabakov, will take a 9 and 0 VC record into the Classic at Frankston. “Our girls have done a fantastic job through the first part of the VJBL season and are beginning to grasp some of the concepts, teaching points and shifts in mindset that we have been delivering. Win, lose or draw – the Classic provides us with a platform to test the strength of those things, right now, against the best teams in our age group in the country. We’re excited for the challenge,” Alabakov explained.
Our U18 Boys, coached by Anthony Allen, will take a 7 and 2 VC record into the Classic at Frankston. “I have no doubts that the group is really looking forward to the Classic and the challenges that it will throw up. There will be a lot of talent from not only Victoria, but other states as well. It will be a really good opportunity for this group to continue to get better as a team and work on certain aspects of their individual games at the same time in a pressure environment,” said Allen.
DVBA Chief Executive Officer, Ross Wignell, said “It is a great opportunity for our players in these 3 teams to compete with and compare their ability with, some of the best players in the country. The Classic is a great tournament and I am hoping that we put our best foot forward to achieve excellent results. There is absolutely no reason why each of our teams cannot win. More importantly, it is imperative that each player comes away from the tournament having made improvement to their own game.’
Good luck to our Eagles teams!
The McDonalds National Junior Classic begins this weekend at venues across Melbourne, where some of the best boys and girls teams of all age groups in our country will compete to become the last team standing and take h...ome the coveted title of Classic gold medalists. Qualification for the Classic requires teams to be placed in the top 4 of their Victorian Championship (VC) pool at the end of 9 rounds.
Diamond Valley has had 5 gold medalists at the Classic – U14 Girls (2008), U16 Girls (1984), U16 Boys (2013) and U18 Boys (1993, 2003).
We are proud to say that we will be represented by 3 teams in this year’s tournament, commencing this long weekend:
Our U12 Girls, coached by Jacqui O’Neill, who will take a 7, 1 and 1 VC record into the Classic at MSAC. “We finished third in our pool after losing to second place and drawing with first place. We are definitely in with a chance. Being under 12s, lots can change very quickly and we play Knox, who we drew with, in our third game this weekend so I am excited to play them again. The girls have been working hard all year and are definitely the ones to look out for this weekend. Their determination, work ethic and commitment should be commended. We hope and aim to finish in the top 8 and would love to play for a medal but either way I am so proud they have made it this far,” said O’Neill.
Our U18 Girls, coached by Mark Alabakov, will take a 9 and 0 VC record into the Classic at Frankston. “Our girls have done a fantastic job through the first part of the VJBL season and are beginning to grasp some of the concepts, teaching points and shifts in mindset that we have been delivering. Win, lose or draw – the Classic provides us with a platform to test the strength of those things, right now, against the best teams in our age group in the country. We’re excited for the challenge,” Alabakov explained.
Our U18 Boys, coached by Anthony Allen, will take a 7 and 2 VC record into the Classic at Frankston. “I have no doubts that the group is really looking forward to the Classic and the challenges that it will throw up. There will be a lot of talent from not only Victoria, but other states as well. It will be a really good opportunity for this group to continue to get better as a team and work on certain aspects of their individual games at the same time in a pressure environment,” said Allen.
DVBA Chief Executive Officer, Ross Wignell, said “It is a great opportunity for our players in these 3 teams to compete with and compare their ability with, some of the best players in the country. The Classic is a great tournament and I am hoping that we put our best foot forward to achieve excellent results. There is absolutely no reason why each of our teams cannot win. More importantly, it is imperative that each player comes away from the tournament having made improvement to their own game.’
Good luck to our Eagles teams!
Last Modified on 06/06/2014 11:35
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