Spring is definitely in the air and this means that it is nearly play-off time here in Italy. It has been a rollercoaster of a season with a lot of injuries within our team but we have found a way to win games. We are currently 18-9 with three games to play, which is one win away from top of the table. I am excited for the start of the play-offs and I am confident that we can go really far, especially if we have home court advantage.
Personally, I have had a strong season. I had a little setback in November/December with that injury to my knee but recently I've been feeling as good as ever and I am playing with a lot of confidence. Our last game was a very important victory for our team since it helped us leapfrog our opponents in the standings. We won comfortably and I had my season best scoring game and career high steals (20pts, 6 steals). To top this win off my family were in attendance which made the game extra special.
With my family here visiting at the moment I've become a tour guide for the week. Thankfully, the Sicilian weather has not disappointed us so we have been able to travel around this wonderful island, basking in the sunshine. Of all the places we have visited in Sicily, the town of Taormina has impressed me the most. It has unbelievable views of Mt. Etna and has a lot of great restaurants and bars to keep us entertained.
Having my family here in Italy has really given me a lift as it does get lonely playing basketball overseas sometimes. My family love to come visit me and I'm thankful that this time it was more than just a visit, it was also a holiday for them.
Summer is fast approaching and the GB EuroBasket campaign will be here in no time at all. I am really excited about getting back into camp and seeing all the guys. After the season here I will most likely take a week or two off before getting back into the gym and getting ready.
As any basketball player will tell you, it's the summer months when you really improve your game. I am fortunate to have the backing from the Scottish Institute of Sport and my local sports centre, The Peak (where the GB ladies trained last summer) so I can get all the training and treatment I need at home in Stirling. My main focus for this summer is to maintain a high level of fitness while also working at both my inside and outside game offensively. I really love the summer grind and I'm looking forward to getting back home.
A friend of mine just the other day asked me how long I will play basketball for? I think as long as I have that drive to work hard in the summers and I am still enjoying it I will continue to play.
Although I am looking forward to going home I will miss Italy and my teammates. This year I have been blessed with a great bunch of guys to play alongside. When you change team year to year the most important thing is finding chemistry within the team. Luckily for us, we have a group of guys that have not only found chemistry on the court but also off the court which makes life a lot more fun.
Bye for now,
Kieron
