As crazy as it sounds, Marianna Tolo would actually prefer to lose a heartbreaker.
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Because the moment the final controversial shot dropped to send the Canberra Capitals' WNBL grand final series against the Adelaide Lightning to a decider, she was boiling. The fire has been ignited.
A host of incorrect calls in the dying seconds saw Canberra slump to a one-point loss on the road in game two with the WNBL's head office refusing to take accountability.
Tolo arrived home on Thursday fired up, determined, even angry - she even had a fair old collection of scratches on her arm for good measure.
The Canberra co-captain is refusing to let a golden opportunity slip heading into game three at what is set to be a sold-out AIS Arena on Saturday.
"I know I’m pumped up right now, angry and ready to go for game three," Tolo said.
"We can take positives in the fact it wasn’t a blowout, we were right there and we could have taken the win. A couple of things didn’t go our way and we still fought to the very end.
"They made that tough shot at the end but we know we can compete against them, we know we’ve been tough at home, no one can beat us at home - we’ve only lost one game at home all season.
"The crowd will be a huge impact on that and it’s really exciting. Everyone will take these few days to regroup and recover, and come into game three focused and ready to go.
"Now it’s all about game three, this is how we beat them, this is our strategy."
The Capitals had won 12 games on the trot heading into their second clash with the Lightning, when their pursuit of an eighth championship hit a major snag.
In the blink of an eye Canberra's grip on the title had loosened. While Canberra coach Paul Goriss concedes his side needs to finish a whole lot better in the season finale, he is doing anything but hitting the panic button.
This occasion is what he recruited the likes of Tolo, Kelsey Griffin, Leilani Mitchell, Kelly Wilson and Kia Nurse for - big games call for big names to stand up.
"I have trust and belief in the girls that they can turn this around," Goriss said.
"I don’t think there is too much we need to change, this group has an undying belief, great character. All season we have shown, when the chips are down, somebody steps up."
WNBL GRAND FINAL
Saturday: Game three - Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 5pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
