By Lance Jenkinson
Up-and-coming Point Cook basketballer Paul Tsapatolis has already had a year to savour.
But the 17-year-old is hoping the second half of the year will provide even more excitement.
Tsapatolis played a significant role in Victoria Metro’s under-18 men’s team winning gold at the Basketball Australia junior national championships in Townsville in April.
The towering centre was a powerhouse for the Big V, averaging 11.2 points and 9.2 rebounds a game across the tournament. He was also hard-nosed in defence, averaging
1.6 blocks and a steal a game.
Tsapatolis represented Vic Metro twice in the under-16s and this was his second effort with the under-18s.
“I reckon it was my best nationals out of the four years I’ve had,” Tsapatolis said.
The gold medal will be a constant reminder for Tsapatolis of the mayhem that took place in the final against South Australia.
Vic Metro was seemingly down and out, trailing by as much as 17 points in the second half, but it fought its way back to claim victory in dramatic circumstances.
“It was a remarkable win and I won’t ever forget that,” Tsapatolis said. “The celebrations were just crazy.
“We were all getting around each other and we got a 20-litre bucket full of ice and tipped it on our coach.
“We stayed up all night enjoying our victory and probably didn’t get to bed until 5am.”
Even staring at the massive deficit, Tsapatolis never gave up hope on Vic Metro making a comeback in that incredible match.
The youngster from the Keilor Thunder harked back to the hard work the team had put in before the championships and the bond among the players as reasons why Vic Metro could claim the prize after being in a dire situation.
“I believed it,” Tsapatolis said. “All our hard training and work got us belief to win that game.
“There’s always a rivalry when we play an Adelaide team. It was unbelievably good to win that game.”
Aside from heartily enjoying the spoils of victory, Tsapatolis had an even greater reason to smile soon after the nationals when he was invited to tryout for the Australian under-17 squad.
He went into the camp full of confidence and made the final cut to represent Australia at the under-17 Oceania Championships in New Caledonia next month.
“I had a great nationals, so I was feeling good about myself getting a try-out call,” he said.
“The fact that I got chosen says that all of my hard work has paid off.”
It hit home for Tsapatolis that he would be representing Australia when he got his hands on a team shirt bearing his name.
“The thing I valued most was seeing my surname on the back of an international jersey,” he said. “That was incredible.”
Tsapatolis will be aiming for the starting centre role for Australia.
But the Maribyrnong College year 11 student will play any role deemed necessary for the team as the players strive to become Oceania champions.
“It’s just an honour, at the end of the day, to play for my country,” he said.
Tsapatolis is the July nominee for the Don Deeble Rising Star award.
The award, hosted by the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club and Star Weekly, recognises young athletes from the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at state and or national levels.
Tsapatolis will receive $1000 and other prizes, donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, to assist him in achieving his sports goals.
