Robert Sibley

HTML <h2><strong>No</strong><strong> 72 ROBERT SIBLEY</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 feet 6 inch (199cm) Forward</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>1988 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>A car pulled up outside the Inala basketball stadium in the outer suburbs of Brisbane. The tall fourteen year old walked tentatively inside. He did not know anybody and frankly did not want to be there. He preferred riding motor bikes or playing some games of rugby league or rugby union. His mum and dad felt he was too tall to ride motor bikes safely so basketball was their choice. The youngster introduced himself to the team who were all older than him, had played basketball, and were all aboriginal. The team was called the “YAMs” (Young Aboriginal Men). Robert Sibley recalls, “I was terrified. I’d never even picked up a basketball, let alone played a game, and here I was the only teenager in a senior team.” After one season Robert recalls that he still didn’t even like basketball but he was “getting pretty good”. One year later he was in the Queensland Under 16 team, two years later in the Brisbane Bullets squad and at seventeen was in the Bullets National Basketball League (NBL) team.</p>

HTML <p>Robert “Rob” Sibley was born July 10th, 1966 in Gladstone, Queensland. After his late start in basketball and playing with the “YAMS” he played at Lang Park under the excellent coaching of the legendary Bob Young. “Bob taught me the fundamentals of the game and was a huge influence on me as a player and person,” says Robert. He was soon in the Queensland Under 16 team, then had two years in the State Under 18 team and then theState Under 20 team. As a seventeen year old in 1983 he was chosen on the Australian Junior Team under Coach Bob McGugan and toured to the Philippines.</p>

HTML <p>In 1984 Brisbane Bullets Coach Brian Kerle invited Rob to join the Bullets training squad. He remembers, “It was a great opportunity as I was able to train with the likes of Larry Sengstock, Ron Radliffe, Audie Matthews and of course the great Leroy Loggins.”</p>

HTML <p>In 1985 Rob was in the Bullets team that won the NBL Championship. The next year he was a member of the Bullets team which was beaten in the NBL Grand Final by Adelaide. In 1987 he played for the Bullets when they won the NBL Championships.</p>

HTML <p>In 1986 Rob had been included in the Australian Men’s Team (Boomers) training squad but as he had only been playing for a few years he was not selected to the National Team. This changed in 1987 when he was in the Boomers squads that played against the Big East USA and the USSR in Australia. The Soviet Union tour took Australia by storm and the sell-out crowds and the high quality games ignited basketball right across the country. The Boomers, with Robas a team member, then won the Oceania 1988 Olympic Qualification Tournament in New Zealand. </p>

HTML <p>At the end of 1987 Rob was a member of the Boomers team that toured to Greece, France and Holland. At the prestigious Haarlem Tournament in Holland, Rob had one of his best games as a Boomer. Boomers coach Dr Adrian Hurley recalls. “Rob was never considered a high scorer but in the final of the tournament he scored heavily, rebounded, blocked shots and defended superbly. He was clearly our man of the match.”</p>

HTML <p>In 1988 the Olympic preparation came thick and fast as Rob and the Boomers played Czechoslovakia, Nebraska and then had another six match series against the mighty Soviet Union team. Somewhere in this last series either in a game or at training Rob complained of a sore arm. No break or damage was found and Rob was named to the Australian Team for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>At Seoul the team got into training hard in the days leading into the tournament and Rob’s arm again gave him trouble. Further examination revealed that he now had a stress fracture in the arm and he was unable to take part in the Olympic Tournament but remained with the team. “I was very disappointed of course. But these things happen. I nevertheless had a great Olympic experience. The whole thing....the Village, the ceremonies and the basketball games were fantastic. ....it was all an eye-opener for me...I was so young....I loved the environment......I made many friends and swimmer Duncan Armstrong who won a Gold medal is still a mate. Of course the team played great and had a fantastic tournament...so it all ended well,” says Rob. The Boomers played in the Medal round and then secured 4th place the best ever by an Australian team (since equalled twice).</p>

HTML <p>Rob was to spend four months out of basketball because of his injury but returned to the Brisbane Bullets in 1989 and played for the Boomers in the Oceania 1990 World Championship Qualification Tournament.He was then was a member of the Boomers team on the very arduous seventeen match tour to the USA and Argentina. </p>

HTML <p>In 1990 Rob played in the Boomers versus NBL series but missed selection to the Boomers team for the 1990 World Championships. He played for the Boomers again in 1993 in the six game series against Russia, in the Oceania 1994 World Championship Qualification Tournament and a game against the NBL All Stars. These were the last games he was to play for Australia.</p>

HTML <p>In 1990 his Bullets team lost the Grand Final of the NBL to Perth. From there the Bullets struggled, by their high standards, and after two mediocre years the Club sought some changes. Despite the fact that Rob had signed a new three year contract he was released by the Club so he took up a long time invitation by Lindsay and Andrew Gaze to play with the Melbourne Tigers. “I loved playing with the Tigers. I was not a scorer but I had an important role in the team to defend, rebound and in a sense also “protect” Andrew,” recalls Robert.</p>

HTML <p>In 1992 the Tigers lost to South East Melbourne in the Grand Final of the NBL but came back to win the NBL Championship over Perth in 1993. The 1993 title was the first in the NBL by the Tigers. “It was a great year,” says Rob. “Mark Bradtke joined the team...he was the missing piece we needed. The whole year was fun.”</p>

HTML <p>Despite two great years at the Tigers Rob surprised many when he decided to return to Brisbane in 1994.“I went for family reasons,” says Rob. He re-joined the Bullets now under Coach Bruce Palmer.</p>

HTML <p>Rob played for the Bullets from 1994 to 1998 and in 1999 decided to retire. “’I’d had enough...injuries and motivation was telling,” he concludes. He was however not lost to the Club as he stayed on with the Bullets in sales and marketing, had one year as CEO and even had a comeback of five games with the Bullets in 2003 (he was 36) when the Club was devastated by injuries. “I was fit...worked out with the boys...and Joey (Wright) thought I could help out. I knew the moves and everything so it worked out,” says Rob. </p>

HTML <p>In 2006 Rob took a year off through illness and then moved to Golf Events and then in 2009 to sales and marketing in the food industry.</p>

HTML <p>Robert Sibley played 371 games in the NBL, won three championships and is ranked second all-time in games played for the Brisbane Bullets with 305. He is ranked number one for the Melbourne Tigers in percentage shooting (over 400 shots) at a very healthy 60%. Rob modestly assesses that feat. “It just shows you how accurate you can be when you take all your shots one foot away from the basket!”</p>

HTML <p>He credits Bob Young, Brian Kerle and Lindsay Gaze as all having a major influence on his career and life. “I also rate Larry Sengstock very highly. I learnt so much about basketball and life from him. He mentored me. Larry is a very good human being,” concludes Rob.</p>

HTML <p>From those early timid and reluctant days with the “YAMS” Robert Sibley carved out and outstanding basketball career. “You know some people play sport at the highest level and never win anything. I was lucky as through basketball I was able to get a few wins,” says Robert modestly.</p>

HTML <p>Robert Sibley (The Australian Basketballer Magazine)</p>

HTML <p>Robert Sibley drives to the basket in the NBL (Basketball Week Magazine)</p>

HTML <p>Robert Sibley playing in the NBL</p>

HTML <p>Robert Sibley playing in the NBL (Basketball Week Magazine)</p>