Southland Sharks basketballer Alex Pledger is not a "born and bred" — but returning to Southland feels like being back at home.
Two years after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the former Tall Black returned to the court for a short period last weekend and had his first training with the team this week.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times, he said it was a good feeling to be back.
"It is a bit of both. It feels kind of like coming home, but also, like the first day of school sort of things.
"The first practice game, last week, I was a bit anxious . . . just because it had been so long I didn’t really have too much prep time," he said.
This time last year he was unsure if playing this season was on the cards, but a successful second operation in November allowed him to sign a contract with the Southland Sharks to play the second half of the National Basketball League.
"[The] body responded and recovered from it [the surgery] a little bit quicker than most people thought. So yeah, pretty stoked to be able to give it another go.
"So hopefully over the next couple of weeks and last month and a-half — or however long there is left in the season — myself and the team will be able to keep building and make a nice little run to close the season off and hopefully make that top six."
Pledger said the treatment in total took about two years and involved surgeries, chemotherapy and a lot of determination.
There were times when it was not too bad but there were times when it seemed never-ending, he said.
"I’m definitely glad I’m on the other side of it now."
One of the things he missed the most was being part of the day-to-day routine with the group.
Many in the squad were there two years ago, when he was diagnosed, and knew what he had been through.
Pledger said this gave him motivation to give basketball another go.
"I’ve been here for less than a week but I’ve loved every moment of it so far." — additional reporting Cole Yeoman.
