The last link to the Canberra Capitals' glory years says she's happy to have a grand final target on her chest if it helps end the club's almost decade-long wait for another title.
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Marianna Tolo will get a chance to add a third WNBL championship to her resume when the Capitals play against the Adelaide Lightning in a best-of-three grand final series, starting in Canberra on Saturday.
Tolo won back to back titles as a 19 and 20-year-old in 2008-09 and 2009-10 before losing a grand final in the 2010-11, which coincides with Canberra's last finals appearance.
She has since played in Europe and the United States, played at the Rio Olympic Games and has comeback from two knee reconstructions.
The injuries were hard and she also saw the Capitals hit rock bottom, struggling to win games, attract fans and fail to make the play-offs for seven years.
"It means so much to be back in a grand final and to be able to bring it back to Canberra," Tolo said.
"I love this place ... I followed it when I was overseas through the rough years. You don't realise how special [success] is until you don't have it any more.
"Going through those tough years have made it even more sweeter. Maybe I took it for granted in my first couple of years, I came from the AIS and we won [at the Capitals] straight away.
"When we went back to play at the AIS Arena it gave me goose bumps thinking about when we won the grand final there [10 years ago]. But I've also got the memories of the bottom of the ladder.
"I want to bring it back for all of the young players to experience ... to do it for everyone, it will be special."
Tolo is the only player who has won a championship for Canberra, but they boast WNBL grand final winners in Kelly Wilson, Kelsey Griffin and Leilani Mitchell.
The addition of gun import Kia Nurse has given the Capitals a team full of strikeweapons, but opposition sides are targeting Tolo to curb her influence.
Perth limited her to 16 points and 10 rebounds in two semi-final clashes, but the attention on Tolo opened up room for Nurse, Griffin and Mitchell to go on scoring sprees.
"If someone's having an off-day, like when I was missing lay-ups, the others come out firing. That makes it so much harder to deal with our team," Tolo said.
"I'll take that bullet for the team. I'll just keep doing what I can and try to contribute in anyway I can."
The Capitals beat Adelaide 20 years ago when Lauren Jackson led the club to its first championship. Adelaide will have extra motivation to get revenge, with the club in danger of folding at the end of the season.
The Capitals are hoping for a capacity crowd at the AIS Arena for the opening game of the series, with tickets to go on sale on Monday.
WNBL GRAND FINAL SERIES
February 9: Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 5.30pm.
February 13: Adelaide Lightning v Canberra Capitals at Adelaide, 7.30pm.
February 16 (if required): Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 5.30pm.
