The Bryce Cotton-Casper Ware match-up will be a delight to fans at RAC Arena tonight.
Camera IconThe Bryce Cotton-Casper Ware match-up will be a delight to fans at RAC Arena tonight. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

NBL finals: ‘It’s what we play for’

Wildcats vice-captain Greg HireWanneroo Times

THE countless hours of honing your craft in the off-season, the puddles of sweat and pain endured are now a mere memory for this moment, the opportunity to play for a championship.

To be able to play off in another grand final series is something I don’t take for granted.

Whilst I’ve had the incredible honour of playing in what will be my seventh grand final series, it’s something you don’t take lightly as a professional athlete.

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It’s an expectation to play off for championships each and every year with the Perth Wildcats, but it takes an insane amount of time and effort to have the opportunity to compete for a championship.

I’ve mentioned it previously but this season has been one with a range of emotions, with a strong start to begin the season, to then going through a frustrating patch and plenty of question marks, to then riding momentum towards the playoffs.

The group has been challenged, and responded, and through that has grown.

We face off against the defending champions, Melbourne United.

They possess talent across the line-up.

I believe it’s appropriate that the two top teams are facing off in the grand final.

Casper Ware had a dominant playoff series in their semi-final matchup against the Sydney Kings and I thought Chris Goulding showed why he’s a big time player.

There are scintillating match-ups across both teams and it’s going to take an incredible effort on our behalf to return the trophy back over West.

But I’m excited, I’m eager and I can’t wait to run out on Friday night with my brothers in front of 13,000 passionate Red Army fans.

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