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DAEQUON Montreal is ready to take the steps for Australian citizenship, in the process opening up the possibility of an NBL return, possibly as early as 2016-17.

Still only 27 and with four years as a Dandenong Ranger under his belt, Montreal at the weekend was confirmed as the best player in the SEABL when he won the coveted MVP award.

In 2013, he went for 46 points at 71 per cent (15-of-21), had 4-of-7 threes and 12-of-14 free throws along with 10 boards and three assists in the Grand Final as he steered the Rangers to the SEABL Championship over Mount Gambier.

The 36ers eventually came knocking, offering Montreal an NBL import role for 2014-15.

But the 203cm forward could not shake off a few niggling injuries, averaging 9.6 points at 50 per cent, 3.8 rebounds and an assist per game in his five outings before Brock Motum fell in the Sixers’ lap.

Getting cut was a huge spur for the star forward who averaged 23.9ppg for the Rangers this season, taking them back to the playoffs for the fifth straight year and collecting league MVP honours along the journey.

“Things didn’t work out as I wanted (with the 36ers) but I was grateful for the opportunity,” Montreal said today.

“I didn’t really show who I am.

“I had a few injury niggles.”

AUSSIE MONTREAL? Daequon Montreal wins the tap from Matt Burston in his NBL debut.

Unable to produce his best, Montreal took his release by the 36ers as a true pro. But it lit a fire within him.

“I definitely had a chip on my shoulder this year,” he said.

“I wanted to show who I am.

“The circumstances (at Adelaide) were unfortunate but the thing I took away from it is understanding the level of intensity required at NBL level.

“The SEABL is an unbelievable league and the talent was exceptional.

“But at NBL level, there’s not one guy who’s going to take a play off at any time.

“You may get away with that sometimes in the SEABL.

“I had to learn never to take a play off and to keep my foot on the throttle.”

Montreal is spending as much time in Australia now as possible, with the goal of achieving permanent residency.

He now unequivocally knows he has what it takes to play at NBL level but the chance to play as a naturalised Aussie would open doors across the league.

“Yes, I’ve been looking into it,” he said of Australian citizenship.

“I’ll be back for the Rangers next year.”

With the NBL talking expansion in 2016-17 – Brisbane will need to have a team and the league most likely will want to jump from eight clubs to 10 – there should be abundant opportunities.

He will stay in Melbourne for the immediate future and maintain game-shape before a holiday at home with his wife in Boise, Idaho.

Originally from Syracuse, Montreal attended Boise State and settled there, although, like Peter Allen, he may soon be calling Australia home.

The absence of naturalised players in the NBL - with the exception only of Shawn Redhage (who did start his Australian career in the SEABL) at Perth Wildcats - is a relatively new phenomenon so Montreal easily could go the path of players such as Eric Cooks and Damon Lowery before him.

IT was a huge weekend for the SEABL, with Mount Gambier Pioneers winning their second consecutive men's championship from their third straight national final - yes, Montreal stood in the way of the hat-trick with the first one - and Dandenong Rangers claiming the women's crown for their fourth in six years.

Albury/Wodonga in the men and Kilsyth in the women gave it their best shots but came up a little short in their respective Grand Finals. 

But Cobras forward Stephanie Cumming was named MVP of the SEABL women's competition - which obviously will delight the Rangers, which is where she will be playing this WNBL season.

The Awards:

SEABL MVP: Daequon Montreal and Steph Cumming
SEABL Youth Player of the Year: Kyle Adnam and Abbey Wehrung
SEABL Defensive Player of the Year: Damian Johnson and Mikaela Ruef
SEABL Coaches of the Year: Richard Hill and Larissa Anderson
SEABL Referees of the Year: Jon Chapman and Melissa Andreola
SEABL Club of the Year: N-W Tasmania

All-SEABL Women’s Team: Sara Blicavs, Kelly Bowen, Steph Cumming, Jacinta Kennedy, Mikaela Ruef, Kathleen Scheer, Brittany Smart, Steph Talbot, Alex Wilson and Kelly Wilson.

All-SEABL Men’s Team: Kyle Adnam, Roy Booker, Cory Dixon, Deba George, Brad Hill, Damian Johnson, Tony Lewis, Shane McDonald, Daequon Montreal and Donte Nicholas.

Online

My Adelaide-slanted News Corp wrap of SEABL awards: http://bit.ly/1iIkr2d