Dandenong import Vince Inglima is preparing to lead the Rangers towards a Big V championship three-peat and an elusive national title. 20247 By Paul Pickering
IN many ways, Vince Inglima is the antithesis of what Australian basketball fans have come to expect from their American imports.
With Inglima, you don’t get the rim-rattling dunks, the showtime moves or the street-baller bravado.
Instead, you get a fierce competitor; a hard-nosed defender who is willing to work for his scoring opportunities within a successful system.
In other words, you get a ready-made Ranger.
So, in his second season at Dandenong, the 24-year-old has come to symbolise exactly what the Ranger fans treasure – and what opposing supporters envy – about their club.
After being plucked from California’s Sonoma State University at the end of 2006, the unassuming Nevadan has embraced the Rangers’ philosophy as his own.
On the eve of another Big V play-off campaign, Inglima reflected last week on a match that was surely made in basketball heaven.
“It’s been a pretty easy transition,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to be on a team with. And it’s a real blessing to get into a team – and an organisation – that’s used to winning.”
Inglima came to Dandenong’s attention during a stellar senior year at Division Two college Sonoma State, when he was named Player of the Year in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Despite the interest of a few European clubs, the 190cm swingman chose Dandenong after some encouraging conversations with head coach Warren Dawson and board member Lou Godfrey.
Inglima has averaged 22 points per game in his time at Stud Road, but has been content to share the spotlight with star team-mates Ash Cannan and Brent Hobba.
Dandenong’s so-called ‘big three’ have become the most formidable frontline in the league, combing for a stunning average of 68 points and 30 rebounds per game.
Against the odds, the three prodigious talents have complemented one another perfectly.
“It’s probably a difficult thing if you look at it from the outside, because you have three guys where it’s basically their job to put the ball in the basket – and that could cause some conflict,” Inglima said.
“But the bottom line is that you have three guys here that want to win games, and they realise that you’re going to have to sacrifice 15 per cent of your game to boost everybody else’s game.”
Inglima may not have received the accolades Hobba and Cannan have, but he knows he is valued by those who count.
“I think my team-mates recognise what I do, I think opposing coaches and players recognise what I do, and that’s all that really matters,” he said.
Inglima’s coach, Warren Dawson, is arguably his biggest fan.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with him and coach him,” Dawson said. “He probably could score a lot more points, but he understands that from a team aspect he sometimes needs to take a step back and get other guys involved.
“That’s the trait of a winner.”
Dawson believes Inglima should be considered by National Basketball League recruiters, but is delighted to have him leading the Rangers’ charge towards a record third straight Big V championship and an elusive national title.
Similarly, Inglima hasn’t begun to contemplate his basketball future beyond this season.
“The only thing that matters to me right now is winning the Big V, trying to get out of there and get a national championship,” he said.
Spoken like a true Ranger.
