Tara Murray
The opportunity to be part of Keilor Thunder’s journey into the National Basketball League 1 South competition was too good to turn down for Monique Andriuolo.
Having finished her college journey in the middle of this year, Andriuolo has signed with the Thunder for the 2022 season.
Andriuolo said it was really exciting to be part of something new.
“It’s exciting to be part of the club’s journey in entering the NBL1 competition and be part of it and see where it is going,” she said.
“Keilor seemed like a good club with the community behind it. Like a real family. The atmosphere is really important.
“They ticked a lot of boxes.”
Andriuolo said the opportunity to be coached by Tom Bandilovski was something she was looking to forward to, while the playing group had started to settle in well.
She said it already seems like a fun group of players.
Also being from Melbourne’s north-west, Keilor was the ideal location to play basketball. Andriuolo said the side had the chance to help shape basketball in the area.
“Being local on the big things,” she said.
“It’s only down the road.
“The opportunity is amazing and it’s something I had to take when the opportunity arose.
“Here at Keilor you’ve got junior players aspiring to play at high levels and they’ve got professional players playing here.
“The community is right behind. It’s the start of the future and a good turning point for the club going forward.”
Andriuolo has been working hard to keep fit and basketball ready after returning to Australia from college in America.
She spent four years at Pepperdine University in California, the first Australian to play basketball at the college.
“I loved it so much,” she said. “I’m glad I stayed the full four years and it was an experience of a lifetime.
“I learnt so much on and off the court.
“It was a different type of basketball, it was very competitive. Day in, day out you were doing everything division 1 athletes do.
“It was a competitive environment and it was something I thrived off.”
Andriuolo said main thing she would look to bring back with her to the Australian game was the pace of the game.
She said the Americans like to play a fast game.
“I like to run the court,” she said.
“That really improved and emphasised and is a big part of my game that I could improve and bring back to Australia.”
The former junior state representative said her focus for next year was helping the team the best she could.
“I’m starting with a new club and I’m really excited about it,” she said.
“For now it’s about starting off a new club and the journey of the club entering the NBL1 competition.
“I really want to focus on that for now and do my best for the club.”
The club has also announced the signing of American Tyler Kidd. Kidd will join the men’s side in February when he arrives in the country.
