George has long signalled 2012 will be her closing season in the transtasman league. Now, with two weeks remaining in the season, the day she hangs up her bib is drawing near.
A loss to the Magic in Monday night's preliminary final would spell the end of the Mystics' finals campaign and George's playing career.
However, the catch-cry "doing it for Bubby" will not be heard in the Mystics camp. Coach Debbie Fuller said she had considered using her captain's looming retirement as a way to rev the team up as they chased a place in the grand final against the Melbourne Vixens. But George wanted none of it.
"I did think it might be a good way to go about adding an extra layer of motivation for the team, but Temepara prefers we not focus on it," said Fuller. "So we haven't discussed it as a group at all, and that's been led by Temepara. She doesn't want to be singled out ... she's very humble."
George, who has been shortlisted for the league MVP award, has played every single quarter for the Mystics in their 69 games since the inception of the transtasman competition four years ago.
Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu said she was certain her team-mates would be determined to send their inspirational captain out on a high.
"Bubby doesn't want us to talk about it because I think she gets a bit emotional about it ... But, deep down, we want [to win the title] for her as much as ourselves."
