Donar can become national champion for the eighth time on Saturday evening in a sold-out Martiniplaza. Vernon Taylor is this season’s personification of Donar. The 36-year-old American started lackluster, but has bounced old-fashioned over the parquet in recent weeks.
Donar’s story this season is also Vernon Taylor’s story. The 36-year-old American returned to Martiniplaza in the summer after two seasons of absence. In his first months, the guard didn’t make much of it. Too old, it was said, not the player he once was. Get rid of it. But while many players closed the door of Martiniplaza in disillusionment, Taylor stayed.
After the long winter, which started in September for Donar, the team slowly blossomed. And Taylor also started playing better. His heavily pregnant wife flew to Groningen and gave birth to a son in April. Taylor was over the moon.
Worthless
The veteran South Carolina basketball player is the first to admit that he, too, played lousy in the early months of the season. ,,We didn’t really have the time to become a team. There was no real click. Personally, I wasn’t feeling well and that was reflected in my game.”
Taylor was going through a rough time privately. His pregnant wife, Miracle, escaped death in the US when a shooting took place in front of her home. The bullets flew through the wall and ended up in the sofa where Miracle often took her naps. As if by some miracle, Miracle decided to seek the comfort of her bed that day.
Terrible period
It was a terrible period for Taylor. He wanted his wife to come over to Groningen as soon as possible. ,,Because of those events, my thoughts were not always with basketball. I tried my best to be the best I could, but everyone knew that the VT that they saw, not the VT was who I can be.”
The arrival of his pregnant wife in Groningen in December did Taylor good. “Now that my wife is here and my son is born, things are getting better. I play better because of it, much better. The VT energy is back. That’s what I want to add to the team, offensively and defensively.”
Prodent smile
That VT energy there was an old-fashioned splash last Thursday evening in the Leidse Vijf Meihal. Early in the first quarter, the American gave Donar the lead for the first time with a three-pointer. With its wide Prodent smile , he pointed teasingly at a Leiden fan, who wanted to pull him out of his concentration with a loud scream at the moment of his shot. Moments later, he stamped his foot when he was not touched by teammate Viktor Gaddefors, completely detached.
The story of VT is the story of Donar. ,,I told the fans from the beginning to give us time to grow, to develop.” That happened. Taylor could not have imagined that it would lead to the final. ,,I have to be honest, I didn’t think we would reach the final, but I have always had faith in this team. I knew there was a lot more to it, but a finale? No.”
Armed to the teeth
Donar is about to win the eighth national title. On Saturday evening, the people of Groningen can finish the job in a sold-out Martiniplaza. “One more,” Taylor says. ,,But we can’t write off Leiden just yet. They will come to Groningen armed to the teeth. We must be ready for that. It’s going to be a physical game, we have to fight.”
Atmosphere maker Taylor will do everything he can with his boundless energy to grab the cup on Saturday evening. With a smile. ,,That’s for sure. My family is here and I feel good. I always play with a smile on my face.”