WAVERLEY Falcons forward Ivan Platenik couldn't find words to describe his emotions after his side beat unbackable favourite Eltham Wildcats to claim the Big V basketball league state championship title on Saturday night.
Platenik, who scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the series-clinching win, was simply overcome as the final buzzer sounded.
The Falcons swept the Wildcats two-nil in their best-of-three series. All the emotion came as the Falcons sealed a second straight title over the stacked Wildcats team featuring five players with NBL experience led by Melbourne Tigers star Cam Tragardh. "It's still unbelievable - I wasn't sure we could do it," he said.
"Even mates of mine and people around the club thought we would lose. They thought it would go to three games and we would lose. Most people didn't think we would have a chance.
"The league website predicted we would lose even though we won game 1 - I guess we proved everyone wrong."
Platenik said the series was a gruelling one, especially game 2 as Wildcats fans packed into Eltham High School. Some fans even sat along the baseline at either end of the court.
"They are quality players with NBL and international experience. We had a good game plan but once games get close and nerves set in it becomes very hard to play, but we made big shots in both games."
