Dandenong Rangers forward Ash Cannan will tour China this month as part of an ABA all-star team coached by Andrew Gaze.By Paul Pickering
FOR better or worse, Dandenong Ranger Ash Cannan admits he has never been partial to self-promotion.
Despite being one of the hottest properties in the Australian Basketball Association (ABA), Cannan doesn’t have an agent and prefers to let his game speak for itself.
After another dominant season for the Rangers in the Big V League, in which he averaged over 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, it seems Cannan’s on-court murmurings have found a sympathetic ear in Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze.
Gaze was part of the selection panel that named Cannan in an elite ABA all-star team to tour China from next week – under Gaze’s tutelage as head coach. The tour, departing on Monday, will pit the best players from Australia’s second-tier basketball program against clubs from the Chinese national league in a six-game series.
For Cannan, it will be an opportunity to spruik his game to an international audience.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience,” he said. “Not only to get to go over to China and experience a totally different culture, but to play with the best players in the ABA and be coached by Andrew Gaze – it’s going to be sensational.”
Despite his characteristic humility, even Cannan agrees it has been a supreme year for himself and the Rangers. Cannan was the Rangers’ rock in its triumphant tilt at back-to-back Big V League championships.
Still, there have been some setbacks along the way, most notably Dandenong’s brave loss to the Cairns Marlins in the ABA Nationals grand final in Melbourne last month – their second runner-up trophy in two years.
But Cannan said the initial disappointment of the loss – evident in the tears he shed during the post-match presentations – was swiftly replaced by a feeling of pride.
“It was a totally different ending because this year we knew we had an absolute crack,” he said. “Obviously we didn’t quite get there but we gave it our absolute all – and it’s the first time in my entire career that I’ve been able to say that.”
On a personal level, Cannan suffered the disappointment of being overlooked for a second season with National Basketball League (NBL) team South Dragons.
He said Dragons’ playing coach Shane Heal told him that his abilities – as an under-sized power forward – would only fit into a small niche in the NBL system.
While he has attracted the attention of a number of NBL clubs since, including the West Sydney Razorbacks, Cannan has not found his way onto a roster for the coming season.
“I had a good season (in the Big V) and I feel like I can contribute to any team, but a team almost has to take a chance on me,” he said. “I’m not a gifted athlete and I’m probably not as tall as I need to be, but if I can work with what I’m good at I might get another chance.”
In the meantime, Cannan has unfinished business at Dandenong.
In an incredible display of loyalty, Cannan walked into Dandenong Basketball Stadium the morning after the Rangers’ ABA grand final loss demanding to sign his contract for the 2008 season.
“I could get more money somewhere else, but you can’t buy what we’ve got at Dandenong,” he said. “When we’ve got such an amazing team and the club is an amazing place to be around, why would you leave?”
It is that infectious enthusiasm and competitive spirit that has made Cannan a fan favourite at Dandenong, and will surely win over the Chinese crowds later this month.
BIG V League men’s champions the Dandenong Rangers were honoured at the league’s presentation night at Moonee Valley Racing Club on Saturday night, with Warren Dawson taking out the Coach of the Year award and forward Ash Cannan being named in the Big V All-Star Five.
