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Joel Osborne

Joel Osborne writes

Posted Wednesday, January 17th 2018

Vigor’s pride at Gold Coast call-up

Wednesday, January 17th 2018

Bristol Flyers captain Mike Vigor has spoken of his immense pride at receiving a first international call-up for Scotland ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Australian forward was a surprise addition to coach Tony Garbelotto’s final 12-man squad, after qualifying to play for Scotland through his mother’s Scottish heritage.

"I was born in a place called Westhill, just outside of Aberdeen and I lived there for the first five years of my life,” he told Bristol Flyers TV.

"My mum’s Scottish and my dad’s English, so there’s a bit of rivalry there, but at the heart I’m all Scottish.”

The last, and only time basketball featured on the Commonwealth Games program was at the Melbourne games in 2006, where Scotland were unable to make it out of Pool A with a record of 1-2.

“Playing for Scotland is something that I’ve looked into for a while since I first joined to the BBL,” Vigor added.

"I knew they had been to the Commonwealth games once before, and for them to meet the criteria and get through to the Gold Coast again is massive and I really wanted to be a part of it.”

Vigor is the only BBL player outside of the Glasgow Rocks to have representation in the Scottish national team.

Seven of the 12-strong team for Gold Coast 2018 have been named from Coach Tony Garbelotto’s Rocks squad, including current GB Captain Kieron Achara, who missed out on representing Team Scotland in 2006 due to injury.

"I was really ecstatic when I first found out the news,” he revealed.

"To be part of the team and the Scottish culture is something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.

"I’ve been in contact with Coach Garbelotto. He’s a very well renowned coach and I’m really pumped to get in there and do whatever needs to be done to be as successful as we can at the Commonwealth Games.

Vigor's first competitive game for Scotland will be against Andreas Kapoulas’ Team England squad on April 5th 2018, a game that Vigor admits he’s really looking forward to.

"Right now it’s all love, but I’m sure as soon as April comes around it’s going to be fiery and competitive - It’s going to be an interesting game for sure!

“We’re only focussed on the Flyers’ season right now, but once the Commonwealth Games come around I’m sure it will be a lot of fun!"

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