The Nunawading Spectres have announced that American sharp-shooter Cassidy Mihalko and star Rachel Antoniadou have signed with the team for the upcoming Coles Express NBL1 South season.
The Spectres wanted to add some scoring punch and Mihalko will bring that and so much more to the iconic hardwood of Nunawading Basketball Centre.
"I’m excited to bring my unique skill set to the team," Mihalko said from her current base in Cyprus.
"I don’t really think I’m the type of player you can categorise.
"I like to stay involved in every aspect of the game and hope to bring an advantage running the break, going hard to glass and keeping the energy and team chemistry high."
Mihalko is presently plying her trade for Anagennisi Germasogeia in the Cyprus A, leading the league with 28.2 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game, but is keen to get back on Australian soil.
"Australia has felt like my home away from home since I first played there in 2018," she said.
"Coming back and playing for Nunawading this season will be something special.
"NBL1 is a league unlike any other so I am super excited to be a part of it again, especially playing for a highly respected club like Nunawading.
"Coach Flynn has been proactive in making sure I am a good fit and has showed me that we have high expectations in place which is a factor that drew me in.
"I’ve played with Megan (Mullings) before and I am excited to play with her and the rest of the girls fighting for top spot in the league."
Spectres Head Coach Paul Flynn was excited at the announcement of Mihalko.
"'Cass' is a great addition to our team," he said.
"She brings versatility to the floor which will allow us to play with different lineups.
"It’s exciting to be entering a season where our import pairing have played together previously and that chemistry is already in place.
"Cass knows the league and what it takes to win here and I believe she will be an excellent addition to our team.
"We look forward to following the remainder of her season in Cyprus where she is performing incredibly well and leading her team into the post-season and cannot wait for her to touch down in Melbourne once those commitments have concluded."
Having made the move to Nunawading in 2018, Antoniadou is again excited to be returning for the Spectres.
She returned 15.57 points, 4.21 assists and 4.14 rebounds in 14 appearances for the Spectres last season, shooting the ball at an impressive 51.83 percent from the field and 40.98 percent from beyond the arc.
"I love the culture that has been built here and the support we have on and off the floor," Antoniadou said.
"I am excited by the group of girls we’ve got on the floor that are committed to buying in and giving their all.
"After a few years of disrupted play it feels like we have some unfinished business and we’re hungry to give it our best."
Coach Flynn said: "Rach sets the tone for us on and off the floor, she leads by example and raises the bar in terms of what is expected to represent our program.
"Rach is an integral part of our team identity, she gets the job done at both ends of the floor and is a big factor in why we have been so competitive over the past few seasons.
"Her commitment to continued development both as a player and a leader is unparalleled, I believe we saw some of her best basketball in 2021 and have no doubt she’ll take it to another level this season."
View the 2022 NBL1 roster tracker here
Feature image taken by Ian Knight Photography
