By Cheyanne Enciso
A 17-year-old Perth student has been given the opportunity of a lifetime to play professional basketball overseas.
Picture: Josh Cotter plays for Perth Finest in the FASA League. Photo by Cheyanne Enciso.
Jojo Lastimosa is a former professional basketball player who invited Josh Cotter to play the sport in the Philippines.
Cotter is a shooting guard for Perth Finest in the Filipino Australian Sports Association (FASA) League.
Cotter says it’s been his dream to play basketball professionally since he was a young boy.
“I got started playing basketball when my uncle introduced it to me,” he says.
“He was like a father figure for me, and so every now and then, he would take me out to his game and I would just watch him.”
Cotter was invited when Lastimosa and other representatives flew to Australia as part of a sponsorship with FASA.
He says the invitation is a massive confidence boost, but he’s being careful not to let his ego get too big because of it.
But he hopes to be a role model for young and aspiring basketball players.
While Cotter also plans to study design at university, he says basketball will always be something he’ll be passionate about.
One of Cotter’s teammates Isaac Atar describes him as a talented team player.
“He’s so aggressive when it comes to his offense side and coordinated on his defense.”
“He shows that he can become a leader and people around him do grow better as a player and as a person,” says Atar.
He adds Cotter doesn’t let his injuries stop him from playing and instead adapts his game so he wouldn’t be a disadvantage on the court.
“He really is a remarkable player to play with and be around.”
Cotter has received Divison 1 League MVP and Team MVP awards.