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WWC: Talbot, Wilson strike for Opals
A GRITTY 70-54 opening night FIBA Women's World Cup win by Australia over Puerto Rico has been overshadowed by fears over a leg injury to starting power forward/centre Alanna Smith in the first half of a game much tougher than the final scoreline in Berlin implies. It took some Steph Talbot-Alex Wilson magic to seal this one.
Be Like Mike? No, not this Jordan
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OUTSTANDING early defensive pressure featuring double-teams and great rotations tonight in Manila drove Australia's FIBA World Cup qualifying record to 8-0, Anthony Dell'Orso leading the scoring in a 126-93 win over Jordan which was more comfortable than the officiating made it appear.
Pepper spray blinds Syria in FIBA rout
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AUSTRALIA's latest iteration of its national men's team, our "B for Boomers", last night turned Syria into a sandy wasteland with a 123-64 rout at Manila's Mall of Asia Arena, bolstering their FIBA World Cup qualifying record to 7-0 behind a relentless long-range Elijah Pepper bombardment.
Opals TEAM for World Cup in Berlin
IT was 20 years ago Australia's Opals became FIBA World Champions but today's announcement of the 12-player TEAM for the World Cup in Berlin from September 4-13 sadly does not include any modern versions of such renowned global superstars as Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson.
Opals crack China with second half heroics
CHINA, besieged by relentless defensive pressure after halftime, was simply unable to stop a third quarter Opals fightback, squandering a 50-33 lead as Maddi Rocci orchestrated a 62-60 edge by the last break before Zitina Aokuso finished several big plays to underscore an 84-82 victory.
Reid it and weep for China
STEPH Reid's 12-point, three-assist first quarter tonight in Melbourne put Australia on the road to a Game 1 win over China in the first of the Opals' two-match exhibition series against their 2022 FIBA World Cup semi final conqueror, Reid returning late to salvage a 76-74 victory.
Boomers blast Philippines in Cup qualifier
DAVID Okwera swished a corner three for the last basket of a 92-49 demolition by Australia over the Philippines tonight in Perth, closing this current FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier window advancing its record to 6-0 and for the second time in four nights, having all 12 players on the roster score.
FLASHBACK 154: June, 1987
*FLASHBACKS, my irregular "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe or post whatever I find for you. Although, in truth, this week I did go looking for Boomers memorabilia.*
No qualm re Guam as Proctor impresses
IT probably was no coincidence tonight that Bryce Cotton, making his debut for Australia, would be instrumental in its highest score in a World Cup qualifier. But beyond the expected 124-52 rout of Guam in Perth, the most eye-catching Boomers performance was by our latest Cleveland Cavalier, Tyrese Proctor.
Boomers B set to bounce qualifiers
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THE best news about tomorrow night's FIBA 2027 World Cup Asian qualifier in Perth won't be watching the Boomers squash Guam into jam but seeing Bryce Cotton in the green-n-gold and knowing this national group is closer to Australia B than some of our more recent qualification outfits.
