By Caden Helmers
Marianna Tolo's family home in Mackay has been left without power and they are fast running out of water after Cyclone Debbie tore through Queensland.
Luckily the family are coping and there has been no real damage to the house - the Tolo's live in a "Queenslander" house, built on stilts.
Australian Opals basketballer Marianna Tolo.Credit: Elesa Kurtz
In fact, the only complaints the Canberra Capitals star has heard from her family are about the heat inside the house after the air conditioning broke down.
They can't open any doors or windows to let some air in for fear of being ravaged by wind and rain.
Tolo's mum was even forced to go into work, where water dripping from the ceiling has created a pungent smell, to charge her phone - "but otherwise they're in good spirits".
"They're fine, they'll get through this," Tolo said.
"They're up on a bit of a hill so they don't have any flooding damage at all. [Being in a Queenslander house], even if it did flood it wouldn't impact their safety really.
"It's interesting when you see all the photos of everyone back home on the Pioneer River, which runs through the city. It's come out of its banks which is crazy because I've never seen that before."
Cyclone Debbie's battering of Queensland has made Tolo quite glad she's tucked away in the capital, but she won't be for long with contract offers coming in thick and fast from Europe.
Taking the chance to test herself overseas will rule Tolo out of the next WNBL season given it runs parallel to European competitions.
Tolo has fielded offers from a number of teams and while she is yet to sign on the dotted line, she is fully committed to the move to Europe.
"I haven't locked away anything yet, still trying to find the right thing for me," Tolo said.
"I looked into going over just for the end of their season, but that didn't end up working out just because it would have been better for me to get my strength back after a season.
"The best option for me was to stay here and work on my game, and get a bit stronger in the meantime until next season."
WNBL players were slated to receive an update about the proposed salary cap increase on Friday afternoon, which Tolo believes will be dictated whether or not the league can secure a television rights deal.
SEABL star Ben Allen carries the weight of expectation into Canberra Gunners clash
Canberra Gunners centre Ben Allen is used to the weight of expectation.
With 135 SEABL games to his name, Allen is one half of Canberra's veteran duo charged with the task of steering the Gunners back towards the playoffs.
The 30-year-old is leading from the front, racking up a triple double to be named the SEABL's player of the week in round one.
But he'll need a lot more help if the Gunners are to knock over Kilsyth at Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners star kick started the season in style with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss to Sandringham last week.
Canberra are gearing up to host a Kilsyth outfit that opened their season with back-to-back wins in the opening round.
The Capitals Academy have a tall task ahead of them with a Cobras outfit brimming with scorers running hot following an 11-point road win over Frankston.
WNBL star Keely Froling was the star of the show in the season opener but the side was left to ponder what might have been, shooting just 35 per cent from the field to finish on the wrong end of the scoreline.