A MOVE up the mountain has paid off for Rob Roberts, with the Sherbrooke Suns basketball coach named as one of the best Big V coaches of May.
A stellar month for the Suns team has earned Roberts Big V Victorian Youth Championship Men’s Coach of the Month as Sherbrooke went 6-2 in all matches and 5-0 in their division.
Leaving Pakenham for the Belgrave-based basketball squad, Roberts has guided his Suns out of early doldrums to be firing on all cylinders.
Five wins from five Terrill Conference clashes in May hoisted the Suns into sixth in the conference and earned Roberts the nod.
“It all started with a big win over Knox and they were top of the ladder and we suddenly needed that to get the ball rolling,” Roberts said.
“We’ve been talking about it all season – lost five games by under six points – we knew we were right there but needed the little spark to get the boys believing in themselves.”
As well as the Knox victory, knocking off the Melbourne Tigers was another highlight for Roberts and the Suns, especially doing it on the Tigers’ home court.
Roberts has loved the coaching shift to Sherbrooke and the step up in standard association with Youth Championship basketball.
“It’s an awesome club and an awesome group of people to be around,” Roberts said.
“It’s nice to be at that level and coaching where you enjoy every minute of it.
“The players enjoy being there and everyone from juniors up to seniors enjoys being there and it’s a good place to be.”
Roberts and the Suns host Nunawading at Belgrave Heights Christian School from 6.30pm on Saturday.
