BOOMERS ANNOUNCE 24-MAN SQUAD FOR UPCOMING FIBA WC QUALIFIERS

The Boomers squad for the upcoming fourth window of qualifying for the 2019 FIBA World Championships has been announced.

Following the completion of the first qualifying phase the Boomers will carry forward a 5-1 win loss record and are in a good position to progress to the FIBA World Cup in 2019.

The first game of the window will be played in Qatar on the 13th September against the 61st ranked side, before the team travels back to Australia to play Kazakhstan in Bendigo on the 17th September.

A game in regional Victoria gives basketball fans a chance to see the Boomers play in the recently expanded Bendigo Stadium, a regional city that has a long history of producing Boomers and Opals.

Following a strong tour of China with the NBL All-Australian Team, Alex Loughton and David Barlow have been added to the squad, along with SEABL MVP Runner-up Craig Moller.

Brisbane Bullets guard Adam Gibson re-joins the squad after an extended absence, not having played in Australian colours since the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Fellow Bullets teammate, and ex-Chicago Bulls forward, Cameron Bairstow will be hoping to represent the Boomers again after having recovered from multiple injuties.

All-NBL First Team member Daniel Johnson has been included in the squad, joining fellow Adelaide 36ers teammates Anthony Drmic and Nathan Sobey

Rather than have a pre-departure camp, the team will leave for Qatar a week before the game to acclimatise and prepare for the crucial matchup.

Two wins in the fourth phase of qualifying would help to further the Boomers’ lead on top of the Group F standings.

“We are obviously pleased to have completed stage one of qualifying on top of our group – this puts us in a strong position as we now enter stage two of the qualifying process” said Boomers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis.

“The challenge continues and we all look forward to continuing to work together and grow as a team”

“As a coach I feel extremely fortunate to have the privilege of working with such tremendous people”

Lemanis was also quick to praise the group which has changed throughout the qualification process.

“I’m so proud of this group, the way they represent Australian Basketball and their unwavering commitment to the cause– as a sport, we are blessed to have these guys representing us on the world stage”.

Tickets for the next three Boomers games in Australia are now on sale.

See your team play Kazakhstan on September 17th, Iran on November 30th as well as Qatar on the 3rd of December by visiting Ticketek here.

BOOMERS SQUAD QUALIFIER
August 22nd – September 18TH 2018

Name CLUB
Kevin Lisch Sydney Kings
Mitch Norton Perth Wildcats
Cameron Gliddon Brisbane Bullets
Christopher Goulding* Melbourne United
Mitchell Creek NBA Summer League
Todd Blanchfield Illawarra Hawks
Brad Newley Sydney Kings
Alex Loughton Cairns Taipans
David Barlow Melbourne United
Angus Brandt Perth Wildcats
Nicholas Kay Perth Wildcats
Mitchell McCarron Melbourne United
Matthew Hodgson Brisbane Bullets
Jock Landale Atlanta Hawks Summer League
Craig Moller Melbourne United
Nathan Sobey Adelaide 36ers
Adam Gibson Brisbane Bullets
Jason Cadee Brisbane Bullets
Jesse Wagstaff Perth Wildcats
Daniel Johnson Adelaide 36ers
Anthony Drmic Adelaide 36ers
Damian Martin Perth Wildcats
Cameron Bairstow Brisbane Bullets
Joshua Green IMG Academy USA

* Ineligible for game one

Mitch Creek and young guns Josh Green and Jock Landale are among the 24-man squad named for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Basketball Australia

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