Feature image via: LookPro Photography
“Manly family” has gone 20-2 this season, and aren’t expecting to slow down in the NBL1 East Semi-Finals.
Two valuable members of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles promising squad, the Delaney sisters, revealed the winning mindset they adopted throughout the season which led them to a spot in the finals.
“I don’t think anyone else in the league expected us to be where we are, but we had that expectation of ourselves,” Alex Delaney told NBL media.
“Last season we weren’t that far away from being there at the end, and it made us all super hungry to come back this season and go further than what we did last season.”
Alex’s younger sister, Bree added: “Like anything in life, if you’ve got a mission and you’re manifesting that day in and day out, practice in practice out, game in and game out.”
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With only two losses over 18 rounds of basketball in the East, the Delaney sister act knew they were contenders from the word go.
“I never felt a shed of doubt that we weren’t going to be in the position that we’re in right now,” Bree said.
Alex agreed with Bree, sharing there was never a doubt in sight for the strong Manly side to reach the big stage.
“The two games we lost, everyone was mortified, we were so upset that we lost," Alex said.
“That’s what you have to do to build a winning team. I [always] thought we were going to be contenders for the championship."
Growing up surrounded by basketball – with both parents playing the sport – the two went on to appreciate the culture they share with the team off the court, which is prominent and reflected in their results this year.
“We are so blessed, we call ourselves Manly family,” Alex said.
“We genuinely all get along, we’re all the best of friends, both on and off the court. We have great team culture. We’re on each other backs at practice but we’re just obsessed with each other, and that carries on.”
Bree further explained, “We’ve got a great group of experienced players that know what it takes to get there at the end and know what it feels like to play in high-pressure game situations.
“There’s so much love between our team and what we’re doing, and everyone is really committed.”
Tonight, Manly takes on Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence at home, a tough matchup in which the sisters are ready to fight for their fanbase.
“Our coach famously said to us last practice, at the end of the season it’s the team that’s locked in the most and makes the least amount of mistakes,” Bree said.
Watch the Delaney sisters and the Sea Eagles in the NBL1 East Semi-Finals tonight at 7:00pm AEST. You can watch the game live and free via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
