Above: South Dragons captain Shane Heal talks tactics with his team. Dandenong Ranger Brent Hobba (second from left) spent most of the night on the sidelines, but was called into action late in the second quarter.By Glen Atwell
DANDENONG Ranger Brent Hobba added a second chapter to his National Basketball League (NBL) career when he stepped onto the court for the South Dragons on Saturday night.
In the new team’s first game at Vodafone Arena, the Dragons clashed with the Wollongong Hawks in front of a packed house.
But the Hawks were intent on spoiling the party and ran out nine-point winners 102-93.
Hobba – who played a handful of games with NBL team the Perth Wildcats last year – spent most of the night on the sidelines, but was called into action late in the second quarter.
He played a crucial role in the Dandenong Rangers’ Big V Championship win and his spot on the Dragons’ roster is a fitting reward for a season of hard work and high expectations.
Hobba scored 467 points in 22 games for Dandenong, averaging 21 points per game.
The 205-centimetre, 104-kilogram forward also averaged more than 13 rebounds a game.
Rangers assistant coach Stuart Baird said when Dandenong first signed Hobba, the goal was to give him every chance to be signed by an NBL club.
“About halfway through the season, a South Dragons assistant coach came out to Dandenong to watch Brent play,” Baird said.
“After the game, there was some discussion and Brent was basically signed then and there.”
Baird is now a South Dragons member and enjoyed sitting back and watching Hobba play on Saturday night.
“As his assistant coach for the year, it was very rewarding and great to see,” he said. Baird said it was exciting to see Hobba get a few minutes of court time.
“Brent is a very smart guy, he knows that court time will come as a result of hard work and persistence,” he said.
Another Dandenong Ranger, Ash Cannan, is also on the South Dragons list, but is signed as a development player.
“Ash probably won’t travel to all the away games, but will suit up for the home games,” Baird said. “He got some court time during the New Zealand and Sydney matches – that was a real plus.”
