Big V is gearing up for one of it's biggest season's yet.

 

Big V Youth League Player Profiles - 2011 Season

Thankyou to Our Sponsors

Big V Youth Team
team
Nick Abdicevic - Head Coach (click for more information)
Nick Abdicevic
I have been involved with Melbourne Tigers Junior program since 2002. Over the last 9 years at the club I have had an opportunity to coach some great kids and achieve some great results with my teams. My teams have won 4 VC gold medals and number of silver medals, 3 times Classic winners, 2 times silver classic and 1 bronze.
1 Youth League title and 2 runners up.
Currently I m working as a director of coaching for Melbourne Tigers junior boys and coaching BIG V Youth Team. I m also an assistant coach to Vic Metro U18 boys team.
Over the years my greatest value was working and helping young men become better players and better people. Helping number of players improve their basketball skills and achieve goals such as playing on better teams, playing state, AIS, College or even national and international level.
This season I have great players on my squad and we will do our best to be competitive and get better every day.

Tim Bradley - Assistant Coach
Tim Bradley
In 2004, Tim joined Melbourne Tigers Junior program coaching the under 14.4 team. Since then he has been involved with U14, U16 and U18 teams at Melbourne having won a Metro 1 title (05), silver VC medal (07) and silver (07) and bronze (09) national classic medals. This is his second year involved with the Big V Youth League team and is looking for the team to go one step further than last year and win the championship. Tim's long term ambition is to one day be involved with a top USA college program in either a coaching or administrative position.

Christopher Byrgiotis
Christopher Byrgiotis

 

Position
Guard
Born
22 February 1993
Height
176cm
Born in Melbourne,  I'm currently studying exercise and sport science at RMIT and planning to become an osteopath.  When I was in my top age under 14 season my team won VC. In my under 16 year I captained the Victorian Metro team to a silver medal. Came runner up in VC inmy bottom age under 18 year with Melbourne. In 2010 I toured with Basketball Victoria over USA playing many games against high schools. In a particular tournament in the USA, I was selected in the all star five of the tournament.

Luke Hughes
Luke Hughes

 

Position
Guard
Born
20 March 1992
Height
190cm
Birth Place: East Bentleigh
Current Occupation: University Student 
Career Highlights: Under 16 National Junior Classic Runner up, Under 18 Victorian Junior Championship Runner up and 2010 Youth League 1 Runner up.
Other Information: Being Playing for Melbourne Junior Basketball Club for the last 5 Years.

Stefan Uzelac
Stefan Uzelac

 

Position
Guard
Born
16 July 1992
Height
191cm
Birth Place: Benkovac, Croatia
Current Occupation: Student
Career Highlights: Selection into 2010 - 2011 Australian U19's Emu's Squad, National Championship 2009 & 2010 for Vic Metro and Victoria along with selection into 2011 U20's State Team.

Jack Purchase
Jack Purchase

 

Position
Forward/Guard
Born
26 June 1995
Height
203cm
Birth place. Melbourne. Ward 3d, St Vincent’s Hospital
Current occupation/student. Year 10. Carey Baptist College
Career highlights: State Emergency. Vic Championship under 16. Classic Champion 2010. Australian School Boys Champion 2010. ECC Champion 2011.
Any other information. Versatile. Can play all positions on the floor and is an excellent perimeter shooter. Wants to represent Australia, play College Basketball and one day represent the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL.
Craig Martin
Stefan Uzelac

 

Position
Centre
Born
11 February 1986
Height
201cm
Birth place : Melbourne
Current occupation/student : Pilot
Career highlights : Winning the 2004 Division 1 Men VBL Championship with Keilor Thunder.

Muka Silva
Muka Silva

 

Position
Forward
Born
9 October 1988
Height
192cm
Birth place : Whangarei, New Zealand
Current occupation/student: Head Chef, Las Chicas Cafe
Career highlights : Playing two championship seasons with the Waikato Pistons. (08,09), 2010 Youth league finalist.
Te Puao Silver AKA Tips
Te Puao Silver AKA Tips

 

Position
Guard / Forward
Born
07 June 1990
Height
189cm
Birth place: Hamilton, New Zealand
Current occupation/student: CarPark Manager / Accountant Student
Career highlights: Playing juniors for New Zealand, Secondary Nationals 2006, YL1 G-Final Series 2010.
Michael Matsias
Michael Matsias

 

Position
Forward
Born
8 February 1992
Height
198cm
I was born in eltham but I moved to the small suburb of warranwood when i was one year old and have lived there ever since. I have recently finished my VCE and am currently studying at box hill TAFE get my certificate III and IV in fitness. also i am trying to get over to the U.S. to play basketball and  continue my studies. The one career highlight that stands out the most for me is clinching the under 16 national title in NSW and to represent Victoria for that week. while basketball is my love i train  in other sports like kickboxing and jiu jitsu.
Daniel Ellul
Daniel Ellul

 

Position
Guard
Born
19 June 1988
Height
175cm
Birth Place: Altona
Current occupation: gym manager and personal trainer
Career highlights: winning the youth league championship
Dane Pineau
Dane Pineau

 

Position
Forward / Centre
Born
2 August 1994
Height
204cm
Birth Place: Melbourne, Victoria
Current occupation/student: Student
Career highlights: MVP of the Pete Smith Classic when playing in Hawai'i
Under 18 state team
Thomas Chambers
Thomas Chambers

 

Position
Forward/Guard
Born
2 March 1992
Height
194cm
Birth place : Melbourne
Current occupation/student : Student at Monash University
Career highlights : Runners up in u16 nationals, member of schoolboy Victorian basketball team runners up in U16 and U18 VC titles.
Any other information - Began my career with waverley basketball association, moved to play for tigers in u16s and never looked back. Love the club, love the game.
Matt Boland
Matt Boland

 

Position
Guard
Born
20 December 1989
Height
189cm
Birth Place: Melbourne
Current occupation/student: Administration Assistant and Part time student, studying Bachelor of Business
Career Highlights : Playing for St.Johns College in NZ for 12 months, captaining the U18 Melbourne Tigers Team.

Nicholas Djordjevic
Nicholas Djordjevic

 

Position
Forward
Born
20 July 1993
Height
191cm
First year at Melbourne Tigers.
Damien O'Keefe
Damien O'Keefe

 

Position
Guard
Born
19 July 1992
Height
184cm
Currently 18 and studying architecture in city. Started basketball when i was 11 and moved to tigers upper age 18's. was coached by lindsay gaze who help improve my game out of sight.
Now on the youth league squad and constantly learning more everyday.
Ryan Oirbans
Ryan Oirbans

 

Position
Centre
Born
19 September 1993
Height
204cm
Currently in Year 12 at Caulfield Grammar School.
Some of my highlights have been 2010 NITP America tour, 2010 State team emergency, VSSSA school state team, U14 nationals in Tasmania and runners up in the 2009 U18 VC season