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THE Boomers have been talking “Gold” at Rio for months now so today is a good omen, marking the 10-year anniversary of Australia’s first men’s basketball Gold Medal victory.

Sure, it wasn’t an Olympics in 2006. And it wasn’t in an exotic location such as Rio. Or Seoul. Or Barcelona.

It was in Melbourne.

But it was Gold all right, the only medal Australia’s senior men’s basketball team has ever won and they did it at the Commonwealth Games, beating cross-Tasman and arch sporting rival New Zealand in the tournament Final.

BOOMERS SOONER: The Australian team prepare for the medal dais.

In a year which 24 hours earlier saw the Opals claim Commonwealth Games Gold, then achieve the ultimate a few months later by claiming FIBA World Championship Gold in Rio, the Boomers’ effort quickly was consigned to a vague memory.

Except for its competitors, namely CJ Bruton, Brad Davidson, Russell Hinder, Jacob Holmes, Luke Kendall, Sam Mackinnon, Neil Mottram, Brad Newley, Paul Rogers, Tony Ronaldson, Jason Smith, Mark Worthington and coach Brian Goorjian.

ON ROAD TO GOLD: CJ Bruton escapes an English challenge in the semis.

The Boomers saw off Scotland 129-52, then Nigeria 103-57 and India 133-49 to win Group A with a 3-0 record.

In the semis, Australia beat Group B’s second placegetter England 101-75 while New Zealand took out Nigeria 90-66.

The Tall Blacks had won Group B by sweeping  South Africa 88-58, England 84-63 and Barbados 91-51.

MINE! Mark Worthington secures a rebound against the Tall Blacks.

That set up a gripping Gold Medal game, if only because of the trans-Tasman rivalry. After all, most observers knew this was the only match which would matter, with all due respect to the other six competing nations, international minnows all.

The Final became epic when it took consecutive Jason Smith 3-pointers to bail Australia out of jail.

Level at 73-73 with 2:40 left, Smith’s crucial pair of triples bumped the buffer to 79-76, a much tighter finish than expected, especially after Australia opened the match in style to lead 25-15 after the first quarter.

Turnovers opened the door to the Tall Blacks whose 22-11 second period gave them a 37-36 lead at the main interval.

SAM THE MAN: Sam Mackinnon kept Australia in the hunt during the third period.

Slammin’ Sammy Mackinnon (16 points) kept Australia in the contest when New Zealand broke away to lead 48-40 during the third.

Mackinnon initiated a 10-0 run with eight points midway in the quarter to sweep the Boomers head 50-48.

PRESSURE PERFORMER: Jason Smith battling the Tall Blacks. His threes sealed Gold.

New Zealand had the lead back at 62-61, entering the final quarter. It was drama to the final siren, where Smith's two long bombs settled the issue.

A 2002 FIBA World Championship All Star Five selection, New Zealand star Pero Cameron had a game-high 22 points, while Luke Kendall led Australia with 17.

On this day - March 24, 2006.

CELEBRATION TIME: CJ Bruton and Mark Worthington delight in the win.

When Jacob Holmes, now President of the Australian Basketballers Association, retired from the NBL last year, that Commonwealth Games Gold with the Boomers was high among his fondest career memories.

“That time with the Boomers and Goorjian, three-a-day sessions were hard going,” he said.

“But that Commonwealth Games Gold Medal?

“No, it wasn’t the Olympics but for guys like me, Brad Davidson, Russell Hinder, Neil Mottram, it was our Olympics. it meant so much to us – lifelong friendships.”

COMMONWEALTH KINGS: Neil Mottram high fives his Boomers teammates.

And, of course, a unique place in Australian basketball history.

PS

And in more great Boomers news, the NBL’s 2016 MVP, Kevin Lisch, today formally became an Australian citizen.