ON paper the Women's SBL champions of the last two years have got stronger and deeper coming into 2016 so it's hard to make a case for the Rockingham Flames not being the team to beat again.

The Flames have only won two championships in the SBL and they have come the last two years with many of the same pieces are back again in 2016 including coach Ryan Petrik, and WNBL stars Samantha Whitcomb and Darcee Garbin.

Coming off their maiden championship victory in 2014, the Flames again claimed the minor premiership last season with a 20-2 record and then they went through the quarter finals with two wins over the Cockburn Cougars, and semi finals with a sweep of the Mandurah Magic.

Then in the grand final, the Flames won a tight battle 68-63 over the Willetton Tigers to make it back-to-back championship triumphs.

And now not only are Petrik, Whitcomb and Garbin back for an attempt at the three-peat, but they have been able to add an import as well.

Garbin has gone back to being an unrestricted signing having not played the required minutes to slip into the restricted category in the WNBL with the Townsville Fire.

That means that the Flames have been able to go out and signed WNBL import Ifunanya Ibekwe. Following her college career with the Arizona Wildcats, Ibekwe was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the WNBA but the last three years has seen her play throughout Europe.

And this WNBL season she was a key part of the South East Queensland Stars push into the playoffs before losing the preliminary final to Garbin and the Townsville Fire.

Having averaged 14.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the WNBL, Ibekwe has all the tools to take the SBL by storm throughout 2016.

The rivalry when they arrive back at the Flames will also be intriguing between the coach and star players. Petrik has been an assistant coach with the Perth Lynx this season and Whitcomb has taken the league by storm being named to the All Star Five.

Garbin has continued to be an important part of the Townsville Fire as well and this weekend the WNBL championship will be decided with Game 2 in Townsville, and Game 3 back at Bendat Basketball Centre on Sunday if required. The Fire currently lead 1-0.

It will be intriguing to follow when Whitcomb and Garbin do return to play SBL this season though.

There is every chance they don’t arrive until the second half of the season, but with the squad there already they should remain near the top and ready for them to lead their charge towards another title.

There is certainly a lot more to the Flames than just Whitcomb, Garbin and Ibekwe.

Jacinta Bourne, Talisia Bourne, Lizel Buckley, Ariana Hetherington and Tarsha Fletcher are all back again and thy have signed Amanda Pether from the Lakeside Lightning, Ashlee Sidebottom from the Mandurah Magic and Ella Kennedy from the Willetton Tigers.

Vanessa Michael, meanwhile, has moved on to the Cockburn Cougars while Holly Coomey, Caris Langley, Elyse O'Dea, Kate Williams and Mary-Alice Telfer haven’t re-signed.

At the SBL Blitz at Warwick Stadium, the Flames beat the Lakeside Lightning, Mandurah Magic and East Perth Eagles but lost to the Perth Redbacks.

Rockingham's season begins on Saturday March 19 against the Willetton Tigers at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

The Flames' home opener will be on Easter Monday against the East Perth Eagles at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

ROSTER
Lizel Buckley, Jacinta Bourne, Tarsha Fletcher, Ashlee Sidebottom, Amanda Pether, Talisia Bourne, Shelby Meola, Cady Jorgensen, Darcee Garbin, Ella Kennedy, Ariana Hetherington, Claudia Langley, Samantha Whitcomb (restricted), Ifunanya Ibekwe (restricted)
Coach – Ryan Petrik

EXPERTS THOUGHTS
Championship Winning Coach - VLAD ALAVA
PREDICTION – 1st
The defending champs just got deeper with the addition of Ash Sidebottom, Amanda Pether, Ella Kennedy and the addition of WNBL import Ifunanya Ibekwe. This team was already quick, athletic and offensively dangerous and now with the addition of Ibekwe and crew it means less reliance on big minutes for the likes of Whitcomb, Garbin and co in their tougher games knowing that depth is there. Coach Petrik should have fun putting together combinations on the floor this year.

MATT CECINS
PREDICTION – 1st
An exceptional team that is well coached. The Flames have the best WSBL player from the last 10 years in Whitcomb and Ifunanya Ibekwe will make a huge impact in the league. Rockingham still have the greatest depth, and have added Ashlee Sidebottom to further enhance this. A class above the rest of the competition if they remain healthy and have all of their players available each night.

ANONYMOUS
PREDICTION – 1st
Whitcomb expected to not be available until the second half of the year and possibly the same with Garbin but she does become unrestricted in a significant boost. That allowed them to add Ify Ibekwe. Jacinta Bourne could be even better after a season with the Lynx and they have recruited Sidebottom, Pether and Kennedy for size and depth. The team to beat again.

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by HoopShots