Basketball On The Internet.

DEFENCE. Attitude. Aptitude. The Opals were back last night, erasing Brazil 65-52 in their FIBA World Cup Qualifying clash in Belgrade, and not even loosely resembling the lost and ageing combination which crashed to near desolation just six months ago at the Tokyo Olympics.

From the tip-off captain Sami Whitcomb - who should have been an Opals certainty in Tokyo but wasn't - led from the front, taking a sweet around-the-body feed from Bec Allen after the latter stole the ball for Australia's opening hoop.

Alanna Smith was active and involved, Cayla George typically holding the fort and Steph Talbot hustling her butt off. Whitcomb's step-back 3-pointer was inspired for 8-0, as was Smith saving a ball out of court, flicking it back to Allen for another three and a morale-boosting 11-0 start.

SMITH IS THE NAME: Alanna Smith was back to her best, active and involved.

Brazil was never in it from there, the Opals' defensive pressure and relentless intensity forcing 24 turnovers and keeping their one-time nemesis shooting at a flustered 30 per cent.

Australia held Brazil to 10 first-quarter points to lead by 10 at the first break, then again choked the life from its offence in the second quarter, conceding only a further 10 points.

Ahead 36-20 at halftime, the Opals then cut further loose with an 8-1 start that saw them 44-21 ahead and invaluable international court-time being pumped into the roster.

As the game wore on, Brazil made its anticipated run and closed the gap to 13 at 45-58. Aided by some wayward shooting and ugly turnovers, the door was slightly ajar for the Brazilians but they failed to capitalise on several gift opportunities until Australia saddled up again and rode away with a win more comfortable than the final score indicated.

Allen led all scorers with 16 and her length constantly troubled Brazil defensively, the Victorian star finishing on six steals and dominating the passing lanes.

JUST DO IT? Bec Allen did, repeatedly, making Brazil nuts by stealing the ball six times.

Talbot swished a triple and added seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block, her on-ball defensive pressure at a super-elite level all game.

In fact it was two aspects which shone out at key moments - Australia's committed defence and its great ball movement which often led to uncontested layups. Its 20 turnovers though did leave the coaching staff with areas on which to focus.

This was a lot more like what we became used to seeing from the Opals from the time Tom Maher was appointed coach ahead of the last FIBA World Cup held in Australia, back in 1994.

Sandy Brondello was a key playmaker on that team which played off for Bronze. She was back making the right moves last night too from the head coach's chair. Amazing what an injection of youth and enthusiasm can do to alter the fortunes of an ailing program. 

AUSTRALIA OPALS 65 (Allen 16, Tolo 12, Whitcomb 11; George 8 rebs; Talbot, Whitcomb 4 assts) d BRAZIL 52 (De Carvalho 13, Paixao 9, Silva 6; De Souza 9 rebs; Goncalo 4 assts). SERBIA 65 d KOREA 62.

PAYING THE TOLO TOLL: Marianna Tolo exemplifying the Opals' defensive pressure.

*AS host nation for the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Australia is an automatic qualifier. These games are only relevant as international match practice and possibly a better tournament seeding. Australia's next match is against host Serbia tomorrow.