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Phillips pushing for Olympic call up

Sullivan Phillips with the Slovakian title.

Bermuda basketball player Sullivan Phillips is anxiously waiting for the Great Britain Olympic training camp to start later this month as he looks to win a spot on their London Games squad.Phillips, who plays professionally in Slovakia, was named in the preliminary Standard Life Great Britain Men’s basketball squad last month.He was joined by NBA stars Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls), Ben Gordon (Detroit Pistons) and Byron Mullens (Charlotte Bobcats) after all three confirmed their availability and commitment to pull on the Great Britain jersey this summer.The squad is set to kick off their full training regime on June 15 for two weeks before the roster is cut from 16 to 12 players. Phillips made the first cut at the beginning of the month which reduced the squad from 21 players to the current number.The BC Prievidza forward is currently keeping himself fit playing in various leagues before making the trip to Houston, US where the team will train at the NBA’s Houston Rockets facilities.“I’ve been working out and playing in a few leagues just to stay active,” said Phillips.“The training will be at the Rockets facilities in Houston so it will be great accommodations.“With the camp actually starting in a few weeks time in Houston it will be interesting to see how everyone gets on in what will be a very competitive environment.”Phillips recently won the 2012 Slovakian Men’s National Basketball League championship and an MVP award after helping Prievidza to the title.Add to the triumph his Bosman MVP title and First Team honours for both the All-Slovakian team and the All-Bosman team, the Bermuda international enjoyed an exceptional season even by his lofty standards.After having the season he had, Phillips is confident of making the team and insists he is not just going to the trials to make up the numbers.“I’m definitely confident of making the team, I won’t be there to make up numbers I’ll be there to make the Olympic team to represent GB,” he said.“My faith in God and belief my work ethic is high and I’ll go and do my best and if it’s in his will I’ll be in London, that’s how I see it.”The Standard Life Great Britain women’s team lost 81-59 to Croatia on Monday in the first game of their build-up to this summer’s London Games. Great Britain lost their second match against Croatia in a narrow 77-74 defeat on Tuesday.Bermuda’s Jenaya Wade-Fray is involved with the team as they prepare for the Games. Belgium is the next destination for the side with a four-nation tournament this weekend that tips off with GB facing Ukraine tomorrow.