Bunbury basketball star Cameron Gliddon is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of his career so far.
The 28-year-old was picked for the Australian Boomers’ lineup for the 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, kicking off on the Gold Coast on April 4.
“Representing Australia is the best thing ever and I aim to do it as much as I can while I can still play,” Gliddon said.
“Being able to play in Cairns, the place I have called home for six years, is going to be exciting for me.
“You don’t necessarily get to wear the green and gold as often as you would like to, so I am just taking it all in.”
The Australian men’s side must contend with Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand as well as Canada and Nigeria in Pool A.
The top two teams from Pool A will play in one of the two men’s qualifying finals on April 10.
Gliddon said the other Pool A teams will likely give the Boomers some stiff competition.
“I think it’s about learning more about what the other teams are going to do and trying to figure out a way to stop them,” he said.
“I think we have enough talent that we should be able to make a good run at the gold medal.”
The 6’6’ Guard has wowed crowds across Australia and the globe.
The two-time Western Australian Player of the Year graduated from Bunbury Senior High School after playing in the South East Australian Basketball League.
After attending Concordia University and starring for teams in the United States, he returned to Australia and signed a three-year deal with the Cairns Taipans in 2012.
Gliddon was named captain in 2014. That same year, Cairns reached the National Basketball League grand final for the second time in its history.
His run with the Queensland side included three Most Valuable Player award wins.
Gliddon recently announced he would not be returning to the Taipans for the 2018/19 season.
Immensely proud of his accomplishments, Gliddon fondly remembers the place where it all started.
“Bunbury was a good environment for me, I only lived about five minutes away from the stadium so I was always there training,” he said.
“Playing in the West Australian Basketball League with Bunbury was valuable in making sure I was competing at the highest level I could every week.”
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