Daryl Corletto finally feels the emotional stuff is out of the way and now he can treat his old club the Melbourne Tigers as "just another team''.
On Friday night at the North Shore Events Centre, Daryl Corletto's Breakers play the Tigers for the second time of the season. Given his 10-year history with the club, which forced him out to make way for NBA player Patty Mills, and the comments made about him by new coach Trevor Gleeson, it's not surprising the 30-year-old shooting guard battled to contain his feelings before their first encounter six weeks ago which the Breakers lost.
But now he is over it, despite Mills recently leaving the Tigers to play for a club in China, which adds more than a little poignancy to the re-match.
"It's a little bit different to last time,'' Corletto said. "Last time there was a lot more emotion - going back home for my first game back in Melbourne in front of all my family and friends.
"This time they're coming here. There's not such a build-up compared to last time and I feel better mentally. Last time was a bit emotional but I've got that game out of the way now I'm ready for that second game against them.
"Last time we played them the coach made a couple of comments which really upset myself and my family but that's all blown over now and it's time to move on and I look at them now as just another team.''
Gleeson alleged dishonesty and disloyalty on Corletto's part, despite the Australian having no option but to look elsewhere for employment once he had been cut from the Tigers to free up cash for Mills.
Now Corletto feels he is settling in nicely to the way the defending champion Breakers do things. It helps too that he is taking more of a dominant role within the team, which is coinciding with CJ Bruton's knee problems.
The fact that his teammates are publicly talking about how well he is stepping up - such as American import Cedric Jackson recently - goes a long way as well.
"From day one I've loved it,'' Corletto said. "The guys are great, the club is great and I'm just enjoying every moment.
"I'm just playing my role. This team here can play 10 players [such is the depth]. I feel a lot more comfortable now with the guys and with the structures that they run.
"It's a lot more professional here on and off the court - just the way the guys go about things, it's a lot better.''
The Breakers, who have a six win, three loss record this season, are back to the North Shore Events Centre following their victory at the Vector Arena over the Townsville Crocs last week which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Their last game at what they regard as their natural home finished in a disappointing defeat to the Wollongong Hawks, but Corletto is positive about the way things are progressing.
"I haven't been in a winning position for three or four years. We're six and three and I'll take that any day of the week from where I've been for the last three or four years.''
As for Mills leaving the Tigers after indirectly forcing Corletto out, Corletto said: "I knew that was going to happen. They wanted me to sit around and wait until he did leave and then I'd be back in the team but I wasn't willing to do that.''
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