By JARROD POTTER
PUTTING the last major SEABL award into his basketball trophy cabinet, Dandenong Rangers champion Daequon Montreal was awarded the league’s most valuable player (MVP).
Montreal, 27, earned the SEABL MVP to edge out the likes of Cory Dixon, Deba George and former Dandenong Ranger Tony Lewis for the award.
After 100 SEABL matches, two conference titles and the 2013 SEABL championship and Hugh McMenamin Medal, Montreal was thrilled to accept the greatest individual league honour after a trying season for the Rangers.
“It was great – especially beating out my old running mate (Bendigo’s Tony Lewis),” Montreal said.
“We’ve had to deal with it throughout – I think through my first year we haven’t had the same team going into any season from start to finish we’ve either lost guys to college or guys coming back from college, guys with injury and NBL commitments.
“It’s something we’ve learned to manage – we’ve always kept a strong core group of two-three-four players who’ve been there consistently training every week and just setting the bar so we have some backbone and consistency to go to every weekend.”
While the MVP is an honour he’ll never forget, Montreal admits it’s the team success that drives him and the sensational 2013 season remains his favourite to date in Australia.
“Obviously winning the MVP individually is a great achievement, but winning that championship with my team-mates – that was the guys’ first championship playing SEABL for a while – so delivering that as a group was by far the most special moment,” Montreal said.
“It’s been great (at Dandenong) – getting to the final in my first year was a great accomplishment and you take it for granted how hard it is to get there, let alone get back there the second year and win won.
“To fall short the last two years you just appreciate how hard it is to actually get to that grand final.”
Montreal’s hopes for his fifth year in Australia aren’t just focused on the SEABL court as he hopes to gain Australian citizenship and give his NBL chances a push as a domestic player rather than battling for import spots.
“I signed a two-year deal at the start of the year so I’ll be back with the Rangers in 2016,” Montreal said.
“There’s always (NBL) speculation, but as you and I both know if there’s no contract on the table and you’re not wearing the singlet it’s not happening.
“Just taking some time off – been going for a while, SEABL last year, straight to Adelaide and back here and haven’t had much of an off-season so I’ll just take a break for a little bit.
“Count on being back here for pre-season, trying to work on my citizenship – see if that can help things out with my ability to make that next step and get back to the NBL.”
He wanted to give special thanks to his wife Jamie Lee and daughter Keyana, for their immeasurable support as well as everyone involved at Dandenong – especially coach Darren Perry and trainer Daniel Fabien.
Montreal was also named in the SEABL Men’s Team of the Year to round off his sensational season.
Endeavour Hills born-and-bred basketball star Steph Cumming won the women’s MVP after a strong year with Kilsyth – finishing second to the Rangers in last week’s Women’s championship final.
