Big V’s Jewish ballers
AFTER five seasons in Division 2 with the Maccabi Warriors, three-time club Most Valuable Player Benji Tamir departed for the McKinnon Cougars and Victoria’s premier men’s basketball league.
In Big V State Championship, the 23-year-old athletic swingman has quickly established himself in the starting five on a finals contender.
“My role is mainly to finish the fast breaks and to defend the best offensive players,” Tamir told the <I>AJN<P>, following the Cougars’ 31-point win on March 29.
“Coming from Maccabi where I was used to being a scorer to now where it’s primarily focused on my defence and being a spark with finishing and hustle, it’s been a big change.”
Four rounds in and McKinnon sit fifth-placed with a record of two wins and two losses.
Tamir, who’s scored season-high six points on two occasions, admits he is still adjusting to the league’s elite level.
“It’s definitely been a challenge, much harder than I thought it would be,” he said. “Every single player that plays in this league are very, very good so the team expects you to already have this preparation and understanding of the game … [But] every week I feel I’m getting better at understanding what the coach wants and I’ll continue to get more comfortable.”
Tamir isn’t the only Jewish player excelling beyond the auspices of a Big V Maccabi club.
Stephanie Perch has been pulling on the Hawthorn Magic singlet for 13 years and currently enjoys a starting spot in Big V Women’s Division One.
It’s been a slow start to the season for Perch’s team, which hasn’t won after three rounds.
On a personal level, the 22-year-old guard tells the <I>AJN<P> she is embracing a new role this season, something that hasn’t done her game any harm as shown in her Round 2 output of 12 points, three steals in a loss to Camberwell.
“I’ve had to take on the starting three man position, which is something that I have never had to do before,” Perch said.
Asked about the future prospect of a Maccabi women’s team in the Big V, Perch said, “The junior girls that we have coming through have made such great strides in becoming better senior players.
“I think its really important to have the women’s program and hopefully in the near future a Big V team, because it gives the girls in our junior program something to strive for.”
Over in Big V men’s Division Two, Guy Vadas is an 18-year-old Jewish point guard who has been handed captaincy for the up-and-coming Oakleigh Warriors.
With one win, two losses so far this season, Vadas is averaging nine points, five rebounds and five assists for his side while finding his feet as skipper.
“For me at such a young age to be able to captain the squad is a great honour but also a lot of responsibility,” Vadas said.
As his family is strong associated with Maccabi, Vadas says it’s always interesting when he faces the (Jewish) Warriors side: “I feel like I have to prove myself each time I play them, I don’t know what happens but playing against the Maccabi boys fires me up.”
Meanwhile, former Warriors coach Andrew Solewicz is plying his trade in Division One for Melbourne University (MU), which are placed sixth after three rounds with one win, two losses.
“I’m really enjoying the new challenge of coaching at a higher level and with highly talented players I have never met before at MU,” Solewicz told the AJN.
“The main thing I miss about the Warriors is the relationships I had built over the years and a community feel.”
ADAM BLAU
Pictured: McKinnon’s Benji Tamir denies a basket with a big block in Round 1. Photo: Big V Media
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