LEXI LANDSMAN

Shauna Wrublewski is comforted by mourners after her husband Mike's funeral on Wednesday.

Hundreds of mourners filled Emanuel Synagogue on Wednesday to pay tribute to Maccabi icon and former Sydney Kings owner Michael Wrublewski, who passed away on Sunday after losing his short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Delivering the eulogy, Wrublewski’s oldest son Adam said his father was “a really great man”, and fondly recalled growing up in a house that was always filled with Maccabi and Sydney Kings players.

“He was a really strong a guy, a real leader. He didn’t like following,” Adam said. “He galvanised a team to work together; he had vision, he believed in people and would push you until you achieved. He did so much for so many.” Read the full story

DAVID WEINER

Mike Wrublewski, with wife Shauna, at the recent tribute. Wrublewski died on Sunday.

MACCABI icon and former Sydney Kings owner Mike Wrublewski passed away on Sunday morning after losing his short battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 63-year-old was diagnosed in June after he looked for a cure to what he thought was a back pain. After receiving the grim news, he held an emotional farewell event three weeks ago, where former Sydney Kings basketball players travelled from around the world to join hundreds of family and friends and remember their fondest memories about Wrublewski’s involvement in Jewish, amateur and professional sport.

Maccabi NSW issued a statement on Sunday saying: “Our dear Michael, our King of Hearts, may have gone too soon but the legacy he leaves behind will live on forever”.

Current Basketball Australia (BA) chief executive Larry Sengstock, who Wrublewski took aim at during his farewell speech as he pleaded for the sport’s future, also paid tribute over the weekend.

“Mike was a pioneer of the NBL who had a crazy vision of taking basketball from the tin sheds in which it was being played into major arenas,” he said in a statement. “BA, the NBL, the WNBL and all of basketball owes him an incalculable debt and we will now look for some appropriate way in which we can honour his legacy.” Read the full story

Almost 600 members of the Sydney Jewish community gathered at CarriageWorks on Saturday night to pay tribute to former Sydney Kings owner Mike Wrublewski.

Mike Wrublewski with Sydney Kings players at the August 8 function. Photo: Ingrid Shakenovsky

DAVID WEINER

ALMOST 600 members of the Sydney Jewish community led by family, friends, the Maccabi community and basketball greats gathered at CarriageWorks on Saturday night to pay tribute to former Sydney Kings owner Mike Wrublewski.

The event celebrated his 63rd birthday, but doubled as a rousing tribute to Wrublewski as he bravely fights pancreatic cancer.

“Even today I still don’t believe them and I still won’t accept that the prognosis they’ve given me is the prognosis that I’ve got,” Wrublewski told the packed audience.

“I’ll do everything to fight it, and if we can have another bloody reunion next year, it’ll be worth it. And if we can’t, well, I want you to know I’ve got absolutely no regrets.”
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Former basketball team owner Mike Wrublewski (centre) with former Sydney Kings owners Harry Cousens (left) and Harry Wrublewski (right). Photo: AJN file

DAVID WEINER

MIKE Wrublewski, stalwart of the Australian Maccabi movement and former high-profile owner of the Sydney Kings basketball team, has issued an open invitation to join him at a testimonial, to be held in his honour in Sydney on Saturday night.

Wrublewski, 63, learnt he had pancreatic cancer two months ago, but said he has gained an “enormous amount of strength” from the support he has received since the diagnosis.

“It’s given me a lot of strength to know friends want to spend a bit of time,” he said.
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