Cairns Taipans' Rambo takes on homeland
KIWI Tony Rampton is a dual Olympian and proud New Zealander but he heads home tonight hoping to inflict a loss on the Breakers.
The 213cm centre has never played for the Breakers but as a Kiwi, he enjoys seeing the team do well and establish a foothold in the NBL.
But when it comes to playing against them, there is nothing Rampton enjoys more than winning.
"I always love going home and playing well," said Rampton, who has turned out against the Breakers as a Taipan, a Wollongong Hawk and a West Sydney Razorback (also known as the Sydney Spirit last season).
"I’ve never played for the Breakers but it’s always good to go home.
"My Mum’s coming up for the game and I do enjoy it. And I always like beating them."
Rampton is a whirling dervish on the court, giving his all in every game, not just those against the Breakers.
"I guess everyone says they mark a game on the calendar. I don’t really do that, I just try and play every game the same way," he said.
"But I enjoy it a little bit more (against the Breakers), I think.
"I don’t think I go out there any differently, I just enjoy it, especially if we win.
"You always enjoy your wins but especially when we beat New Zealand, I enjoy it a lot more."
Rampton is among a select group of players to have racked up more than 100 games for the Taipans but has missed six games this season through illness and injury.
"I had a bit of trouble with my back and then I was sick, I had what Phill (Jones) had because we were room mates," Rampton said.
"I’ve had a little bit of trouble over the years with my back and I’m just trying to get on top of it but it flares up once in a while.
"It feels good now and things are going pretty well."
Winning on the road has been tough for every team in the NBL this season and just one – the Gold Coast – has managed it in New Zealand.
But Rampton said the Taipans would hit Auckland’s North Shore Events Centre court tonight "expecting" to win.
"Hopefully we’ve turned a corner," he said.
"We went through a rough patch there where we lost seven out of eight games but we’ve (now) won two in a row and won one on the road, so that’s a bit of a confidence booster."
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Home raid: Taipan Tony Rampton will show loyalty to Cairns rather than allegiance to his nation when he plays New Zealand tonight.
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