AUS – Cambage discovers the Worlds

OSTRAVA (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Australia center Elizabeth Cambage is rapidly becoming a star in a tournament she knew nothing about four years ago when the Opals had the greatest moment in their history.

In 2006, when Cambage was just 15, the Aussies travelled to Brazil and won the FIBA World Championship for Women.

“I didn't know there was a Worlds until a couple of years ago,” Cambage said on Monday after scoring 20 points in her team’s 93-54 demolition of Greece.

“I found out about two years ago when I went to the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) and there was a big poster of the team.”

The way Cambage and her teammates have been playing in Ostrava, they could end up on a poster as well because nearly everyone is picking them to make it to the Final.

The Aussies have yet to lose in four games.

Cambage, who plays for the Bulleen Boomers in Australia’s WNBL, has loved the experience in the Czech Republic.

When she was younger, she would not have expected to be at an event like this.

“I love basketball now but when I started playing, I was really bad,” she said.

“This has been my first experience at the Worlds.

“It's been the most physical game of basketball I’ve ever played in.

“I wasn't used to it and I was getting a lot of fouls early on.”

The 19-year-old Cambage grew up in the Dandendong Rangers basketball club.

Australia’s Lauren Jackson was already a basketball icon at the time but Cambage was a big fan of another Australia international.

When asked if she looked up to Jackson as a role model while growing up, Cambage replied: “I played at Dandendong Rangers and Penny (Taylor) was a goddess.”

You can see all of Australia's games live, plus plenty of interviews and features at FIBATV.com.

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