Boomers to play Asian Qualifiers' Second Round games in Bendigo and Melbourne
MELBOURNE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Australians in Bendigo and Melbourne will be treated to elite basketball action in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers.
MELBOURNE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Australians in Bendigo and Melbourne will be treated to world-class basketball action in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers.
“I urge fans to get behind the team and bring their colours and their voices.”
The Green and Gold will face the Steppe Wolves of Kazakhstan on 17 September at the Bendigo Stadium, which hosted the basketball fixtures of the Commonwealth Games 2006 and is the largest basketball facility in the state of Victoria.
"The game will be a landmark event for the city of Bendigo as we bring international basketball to their new stadium for the first time," said Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore. "Bendigo has a proud basketball history, and we are sure that fans from across regional Victoria will get behind our Boomers as they look to secure our spot in next year’s FIBA World Cup."
— Bendigo Stadium (@Bendigostadium) July 25, 2018
After that, the Boomers return to Melbourne for their next two home games - against Iran on 30 November and against Qatar on 3 December. Both matches will be played at the Margaret Court Arena, which can seat upwards of 7,500 people.
Australia enters the second round with a 5-1 win-loss record, and they are heavily favored to advance to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 that will be held in China. The Boomers are tied with Iran at the top of Group F, a win ahead of the Philippines and two wins clear of fourth-placers Kazakhstan. Qatar and Japan are tied with 2 wins and 4 losses each at the bottom of the group.
"The Boomers are the Asian champions and on the verge of qualifying for next year’s FIBA World Cup, so this is a special time for our national team," said Geoff Jones, CEO of TEG Live, Basketball Australia's partner in hosting the second round games. "Home crowd support always matters and can make the difference in securing qualification. I urge fans to get behind the team and bring their colors and their voices."
The Boomers are in Group F and must finish among the top three teams to earn their World Cup berths. Australia already faced Iran in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017, beating Team Melli, 79-56, in the Final, while Kazakhstan and Qatar will be the Boomers' first-time opponents.
FIBA