The Benalla Breakers are the pacesetters in the North East Men’s conference in the Country Basketball League (CBL). The Breakers are the only unbeaten team in the conference, currently sitting with five wins and no losses after four rounds. They have had an amazing start to the season, thanks in part to the incredible play of Eric Miraflores so far.
Miraflores has starred for Benalla, scoring the most total points in the conference so far at a rate of 20.8 points per game. He was born and raised in the Philippines but moved to Australia in 2006. After a few years away from basketball as he settled into Australia, Miraflores joined Craigieburn in the Big V and won a championship in his first season in the competition in 2012.
The question arises, what was the moment that started Miraflores on his long basketball journey? Turns out it was when he first set his eyes on his biggest basketball inspiration, Air Jordan.
“In 1991 I accidentally watched the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Chicago Bulls, so that was Magic (Johnson) versus Michael (Jordan). That was when I noticed Jordan and I was a big fan.”
Miraflores played high school and college basketball in the Philippines before moving to Australia. Once here, he played several Big V seasons for many teams, however, there was an itch that needed to be scratched. So, in 2018 he left Australia.
“I had my first gig in professional (basketball) when I was 36. I went back home to the Philippines for 2 years to play professionally,” he said.
The opportunities kept coming for Miraflores even after he returned. He suited up for the Albury Wodonga Bandits this season in the NBL1 south. This was a level he always wanted to reach even when it was still called the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).
“I had no expectations to get to that level. Especially when you are turning 39 years old, so it was a really big moment for me.”
Now he is using his experience and leadership to help Benalla in the CBL.
“I had my first season with the Benalla Breakers last year. I really enjoyed it, and people really embraced me,” Miraflores said.
Miraflores and the Breakers have extra motivation this season. They are aiming to go one better this year after suffering a tough loss to Seymour in the Grand Final last season.
“The boys are ready for that and we keep getting better each game. Hopefully, we’ll get the result this year but no expectations. Just work hard and try to win the games,” he said.
“We are 5-0 and the guys are really happy with the outcome. But it’s an early stage of the season so we have to keep getting better each game.”
Miraflores also isn’t simply focused on performing on the court for the Breakers.
“My aim is to develop our youth here in Benalla also… teaching them the right way to become elite players.”
“We are trying to make history in Benalla Basketball, to motivate everyone, inspire everyone to get involved in basketball, especially after the lockdowns that have happened.”
Performing well and putting on a good show for the community is important for not only Miraflores and the Breakers, but for Benalla as a whole, particularly with the recent flooding in regional Victoria.
“It inspired us as players that no matter what happens with the situation right now, there is always a way to make it work. It’s all about your courage to overcome trials and tribulations. We’ve got our Benalla people on our back, so they inspire us a lot.”
Miraflores is showing everyone how age is just a number, and he is just as hungry as ever to keep playing basketball week in and week out.
“I feel like I’m learning every year. I feel like I’m developing skills every year,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if you reach 30 plus, you are still able to play at a high level. It’s all about working smart and working hard also.”
