AUS – Captain Cumming yearns for Bangkok heat

MELBOURNE (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) – There are many reasons for Australia captain Stephanie Cumming wanting to travel to the Thailand for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women later this month.

First of all, there is the trophy cabinet at Basketball Australia.

Cumming and her Gems teammates, who are currently training in Melbourne, are eager to make their mark in the country’s rich hoops history.

Secondly, she says, “I’m definitely looking forward to the weather. It’s freezing down here in Australia at the moment!”

On Thursday, the high in Bangkok was 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit).

The tournament tips off on July 23 and Australia will go up against Argentina in their opening contest.

Cumming spoke to Jeff Taylor ahead of the big event.

Stephanie, what do you remember about Australia's gold-medal win at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil. Also, what did that do for women's basketball Down Under?

Stephanie Cumming: I remember everyone watched that game. It was just a really big confidence booster for all of us. Everyone that comes through now just aspires to get that gold medal. We all know that we can accomplish that and everyone is striving to do so.

Is there a player that you have looked up to with the Australia senior team, or somewhere else in the world, that inspires you?

Stephanie Cumming: Definitely Penny Taylor (2006 FIBA World Championship for Women MVP). She is so athletic. She can handle the ball and is a really good team player. She brings so much to the game. She makes everyone around her play better when she is on the court.

Would you like to follow in Penny's footsteps and play overseas one day, in Europe or the United States?

Stephanie Cumming: Definitely one day. It’s not in the immediate future, but some day.

What will you do after this summer in terms of basketball?

Stephanie Cumming: I've signed with a WNBL club down here, Dandenong, so I'll be training with them and playing with them. I came through Dandenong as a junior and now I play for the WNBL team.

Looking ahead to the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, have you ever been to southeast Asia to play or to go on holiday?

Stephanie Cumming: We played in a tournament in Chinese Taipei and got a silver medal there, so we did pretty well.

What about your coach, Dean Kinsman? He’s also a coach at the Australian Institute of Sport and has been working with most of you since 11 of the 12 players in the Gems team hail from the A.I.S.

Stephanie Cumming: He knows how we all play since he is a coach at the AIS. It's been good to work on all our plays the whole time without being broken up.

What are you looking forward to in Bangkok that's not necessarily basketball related?

Stephanie Cumming: “I’m definitely looking forward to the weather. It’s freezing down here in Australia at the moment!”

Here is a crucial question for you, Stephanie. We looked at your player biography on the A.I.S. website and it revealed that your favorite food is mashed potatoes and gravy. Is that still the case?

Stephanie Cumming: (laughs) Yes it is. Mom makes it really, really well so I really like it.

Okay, back to the basketball. Australia are in an interesting group. You will play against France, a team that you competed against already in the preparations this summer, Argentina and Korea. All three teams have different styles. What are your chances going into those games?

Stephanie Cumming: I think in our group, we'll be able to play really well against the different styles because we have big players, small and athletic players so I think we'll be able to match up well with all of the teams that we play.

Stephanie, how important is it for you to represent Australia?

Stephanie Cumming: Just to make the squad - when you put on the green and gold, it's just an amazing feeling.

Thanks Stephanie, and good luck in Thailand.

FIBA