Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Tight battles with China

 

Tight battles with China

Author image
AOC
Tight battles with China

Australia opened its two-match international men's basketball series with a thrilling 67-65 overtime win over China in Perth on Friday night.

Australia opened its two-match international men's basketball series with a thrilling 67-65 overtime win over China in Perth on Friday night.

Meanwhile in China the Australian women's team, the Opals, lost their series closer 70-75.

The under-strength Boomers side, which featured just three members of the team that competed in last year's World Championships, struggled against their more experienced opponents at times but held off a late comeback to earn the win.

China trailed by seven points with just two minutes left in regulation time, but tied the score with 23 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime after Daniel Kickert missed his attempted game-winner as time expired.

But it mattered little as China's Shipeng Wang's three-point attempt to win the game at the end of overtime bounced off the rim and Australia held on.

In an experimental line-up from Australian coach Brett Brown, which was missing the likes of Andrew Bogut and Patrick Mills, it was some of his more experienced players who led the Boomers to victory.

Perth Wildcats guard Damian Martin impressed in front of his home fans, helping Australia to victory with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

And Melbourne Tigers centre Luke Nevill (20 points and 13 rebounds) also played well as the Boomers warmed up for September's qualifying series for the London Olympics against New Zealand.

Wang's outside shooting proved a major thorn in Australia's side, hitting four three-pointers on his way to 22 points for a China team which was without NBA stars Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

Australia was impressive early and jumped out to a five-point quarter-time lead, but China, which is ranked 10th in the world, just one place behind the Boomers, lifted their game late in the second to cut a nine-point deficit to just one at the half.

China carried its momentum into the start of the third quarter to extend its advantage to six early in the period.

But the hosts fought back with 17 of the first 23 points in the final quarter and appeared to be on course for a comfortable win before China's miraculous comeback sent the game to an overtime period where Australia narrowly held on.

Game two of the series is in Singapore on Sunday.

Although not enough to get the the young Opals over the line there were many positive signs throughout the trip that the talent pool in the program is as strong as it has been, as the focus ahead shifts to the FIBA Oceania Qualifiers against New Zealand in September.

In the final game Abby Bishop top-scored for the Aussies with 19 points, while Hanna Zavecz also capped off a great tour with 12 points. Elyse Penaluna ended a great week of basketball with a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 12 boards.

The Opals were again solid on the glass, as they had been all tournament, beating the Chinese side 34-25 on the rebound count. Much of this had to do with Abby Bishop, who showed great intensity and leadership throughout the tournament.

Basketball Australia and AAP

Top Stories