The Boomers brief history in the Asia Cup
As the Boomers look to defend their crown we look back at their brief, but impressive, history in the FIBA Asia Cup.
Photo credit: FIBA
Another year, another FIBA tournament for the Boomers.
This year’s FIBA Asia Cup will be the team’s third, as they look to maintain their perfect record since joining the tournament.
Prior to 2017, Australia had taken part in the FIBA Oceania Championship, which for the majority of its lifespan had only been played between two teams, normally the Boomers and New Zealand.
2015 was the final year of that tournament, and moving forward it merged with the FIBA Asia Championship, to create the Asia Cup. It also meant a change in qualification for the World Cup and Olympics, with the Asia Cup bearing no impact on nations making it to those major tournaments.
Australia came into this new FIBA world with plenty of expectation, and to this point they have certainly delivered. This year the pressure will be on experienced FIBA heads Will Magnay, Jack White, Jack McVeigh and Xavier Cooks as they look to guide Australia in its title defence.
It’s only been a brief Asia Cup history for the Boomers, but it’s one filled with some surprising names, big results, and silverware.
2017
SQUAD | Todd BLANCHFIELD, Angus BRANDT, Jason CADEE, Mitch CREEK, Cam GLIDDON, Nick KAY, Daniel KICKERT, Matt HODGSON, Mitch MCCARRON, Brad NEWLEY, Mitch NORTON
The Boomers first foray into the Asia Cup was an ultra-successful one.
They had an average winning margin of 28.8 points on their way to the title, with the closest game being a 16-point victory over Japan.
With so many blowouts, the minutes were rightfully shared around a squad that featured both youth and experience. A 25-year-old Mitch Creek led the way with 14.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and shot the ball at an incredible 68% from the field.
One of the Boomers biggest tests was supposed to be against New Zealand, who they played in the semi-final. The Tall Blacks squad featured numerous NBL players including Ili, Reuben Te Rangi, Finn Delany, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Jordan Ngatai.
However, it was little to no contest, with Australia leading from start to finish after a 31-10 quarter. They eventually came away winners 106-79, shooting 50% from deep and 56% from the field.
No Boomer averaged less than 10 minutes per game over the tournament, and the shared minutes meant no one from the gold medal team was named in the All-Star Five, something rarely seen.'
Hamed Haddadi of Iran, who Australia played in the deciding game, was named MVP after he recorded 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. Joining him in the All-Star Five was Shea Ili (NZ), Mohammad Jamshidi (Iran), Fadi El Khatib (Lebanon), and Oh Se-keun (South Korea).
New Boomers head coach Adam Caporn was serving as an assistant at the time alongside Luc Longley, under long-time leader Andrej Lemanis.
2022
SQUAD | Alex DUCAS, Sam FROLING, Thon MAKER, Mitch MCCARRON, Sam MCDANIEL, Will MCDOWELL-WHITE, David OKWERA, Keanu PINDER, Tyrese PROCTOR, Clint STEINDL, Wani SWAKA LO BULUK, Rhys VAGUE,
Originally planned to take place in 2021, Covid-19 forced the last edition of the FIBA Asia Cup to be played a year later.
Australia took a formidable team into the tournament, featuring established names like Thon Maker, rising stars such as Alex Ducas and Tyrese Proctor and just one returning player from 2017’s victorious team, Mitch McCarron.
Maker’s inclusion was a notable one, as it was his long-awaited return to FIBA competition as a Boomer, having not played since the infamous Philippines fight in 2018.
The competition had certainly improved since 2017, with the Boomers having their own way through the group stages, but having some tight finishes at the pointy end of the tournament.
The Tall Blacks threatened in moments, but eventually went down again in the semis. However, the gold medal game was one to remember, with Lebanon almost pulling off one of the great upsets.
Australia led from start to finish, but a late charge from their Lebanese counterparts resulted in just one missed half-court hail mary separating the teams. The Boomers 75-73 saw them squeak to gold, although the message had been sent that the rest of Asia were catching up.
Maker was the star of the decider (14 points, eight rebounds, three block) and also led the way for the Aussies across the tournament averaging 17.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He was named to the All-Star Five along with fellow Boomer Mitch McCarron (8.8ppg, 5.5apg, 4rpg), as well as Tohi Smith-Milner (NZ), Zhou Qi (China), and tournament MVP Wael Arakji (Lebanon).
