Hello everyone

This month I have been to Germany and also returned to Australia, having success in Germany and also in the Spanish league. Germany was a great tournament playing with the Australian men’s team in a four nation’s tournament including Canada, Great Britain and Germany. The Spanish league finished with two very tough games for us against Toledo and Vigo, which was a good way to finish a very good season.

C.D. ONCE Andalucia, Sevilla won the Spanish league 20-2 record, winning our final game against Vigo from 8 down at the start of the 4^th quarter. The game was very tough with Vigo playing very well for the whole game. We managed to get in front in the 4^th quarter through tough defence and finishing off some difficult shots. Once the game was over the champagne was opened on court, which made for some good celebrations which went into the early hours of the next day for most of the players.

A short turn around from the finals in Spain to flying to Germany joining the Australia team to compete in the 4 nation’s tournament. We had the opportunity to play against the German league team and also a warm up game against the German National team which we won comfortably. The competition started on the Saturday with our first game against world number one Canada . This was a great game ending with a tie, which took the game into overtime. Five minutes overtime saw us lose by one point which was disappointing as a result.

The team managed to put that result behind us and won our next two round games against Great Britain and Germany . Finishing second saw us play Germany again in the semi, although a tough game we won and went onto the final against Canada . Not as good a result as our previous game, losing to Canada by more than 10 points. However the team is looking forward to taking on Canada at the upcoming Paralympics in Beijing .

Now in Australia and currently getting ready to be a part of the Wenty Leagues Wheelkings team in the National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) of Australia . This season should be better for me, as this will be my first season where I will have been able to train with the team during the week. I am looking forward to seeing how much that helps with the team and I want to have a good season. My first game with the team is against Dandenong on the 28^th and 29^th June in Melbourne, which is always a good contest.

While in Australia my girlfriend Sandra is coming out from Spain to spend a few weeks in Australia with me. I can’t wait for her to get here and see a little bit of Australia .

Regards

Bill Latham