DUAL-Australian Olympic basketballer Brad Newley has attended the birth of his first child, then rescued his Spanish club team from an upset home loss in the Canary Islands.

A European basketball veteran, Newley, 28, was resigned to missing the match against UCAM Murcia, attending the birth of his daughter Beth Rosa.



Newley’s wife Brigid delivered their daughter, who was 51cm and 3.3 kilos, during Gran Canaria’s first half against Murcia when Newley got the mobile SOS from his club’s general manager.



“The GM messaged me at halftime and said can I go?” Newley said, his team in trouble.



Brigid gave her beau the “all clear” and he rushed from the hospital to the stadium.



The fans, aware why their Aussie superstar was absent, gave him a rousing reception when he burst into the venue.



“I arrived midway through the third quarter and we were down by six,” Newley said.



Fuelled by the emotion of his arrival, Gran Canaria went on a 24-2 tear to lock the game away, eventually comfortably winning 86-69.



Newley had nine points and was given a standing ovation by the crowd at the end of the game.



“It was the most amazing day of my life,” Newley said.



Yes. It assuredly is going to be a hard one to top.



Follow Boti Nagy on Twitter at @boti_nagy and at www.botinagy.com

Originally published asBaby, then 'ball for Boomer Newley