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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.
Big Ben says he's ready to return
REMEMBER Ben Simmons? A decade ago he was the NBA's No.1 draft selection and Australia's great hope for a genuine superstar in The Show. But injuries and some head-scratching career decision-making derailed all that. Yet after sidelining himself for a year, he has designs on a comeback at Miami.
Tune in as I join Bruce and Steve at TRP
IF my website here is one of your regular destinations then I am very confident you would enjoy "The Reverse Pivot" podcast presented by NBL championship-winning coach Bruce Palmer and former Brisbane Bullets guard and longtime coach Steve McLeod talking basketball present, past and future.
Opals host China in Melbourne in July
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AUSTRALIA's Opals, currently ranked at #3 in the world by FIBA, will host #4-ranked China in a two match series in July at John Cain Arena, but Perth Lynx's former import star, 211cm Han Xu, is unlikely to be a key player for the visitors or the major drawcard for the pre-World Cup event.
New Boom times ahead for Cotton
BRYCE Cotton, naturalised and as the Most Valuable Player in the NBL our current best Aussie playing domestically, finally will suit up as a Boomer when the national team takes on Guam and the Philippines in July's FIBA World Cup qualifying window, the matches ironically in Perth.
