Suprise visit for UMPI basketball player
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
University of Maine Presque Isle women’s basketball player Liron Albag is a long way from home. The Israel native is in the U.S. to play college basketball, an opportunity not possible in her country. Being that far away from home means family members don’t have the chance to see her play in person, unless extraordinary measures are taken.
Contributed photo
SURPRISE VISIT —
University of Maine at Presque Isle basketball player Liron Albag got a surprise at an away game recently. Her mother and brother traveled from Israel, without her knowledge, to watch her play at the collegiate level for the first time. Her family also had time to pose with the team, from left, front row: Ron Pelletier (Emily Pelletier’s dad), Shahar Albag (Liron’s brother), Yael Albag (Liron’s mom), Bonnie Devaney (she works with the international students on campus) and Parker Heidorf (jr. manager). Middle row: Taylor Dulmage (team manager), Liron Albag, Olivia McNally, Emily Pelletier, Chelsea Boudreau and Emily Moore. Back row: Lisa Pelletier (Emily Pelletier’s mom), Becca Campbell, Rashell Saucier, Renee Moore, Amber Cloutier, Brigitte Pratt and coach Marc Heidorf.
Albag’s mother and brother decided to do the extraordinary and arranged a secret trip to watch her play at a game in New York against SUNY-Canton on Jan. 9.
“It was really big because I didn’t expect it,” said Albag. “I was in warm-ups and they were calling me for a couple of minutes and I didn’t even hear them as I was getting ready for the game and so focused. As they got closer I was shocked.”
After the initial impact Albag said she just started crying she was so happy to see them.
Now having a few weeks to look back on what happened she said there were signs that something was up.
“Usually after games and practices my mother stays up late at home and I call her and talk about the game,” she said. “A few days before this game that they surprised me every time I called home my mother was asleep or not there. I didn’t even suspect they were coming.”
Albag’s family followed the team to all of their games that week, finishing with the only home game they would see during their visit, an afternoon affair against the University of Maine-Augusta, in which Albag scored 11 points.
Does she think her family will be back next year to catch a game her senior year — probably not.
“They thought it was very cold, hopefully they will be back for my graduation,” she said with a laugh.
