Deep Australia ready for first voyage to Asia U16s, U17 World Cup is everything

CANBERRA (FIBA U16 Asian Championship) - Australia enter the FIBA U16 Asia Championship knowing they have loads of depth and versatility for their maiden appearance in the event. But head coach Justin Schueller also has a clear goal - one of the four qualifying spots for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018.

Until this event, Australia had always gone through FIBA Oceania for a berth in the U17 World Cup. In 2009, 2011 and 2013, Australia played a best-of-three series against New Zealand before Tahiti and New Caledonia joined the Oceania competition in 2015. But now Australia and New Zealand will be playing at the U16 Asian tournament in Foshan, China from April 2-8.

"For us, it's exciting to be the first Australian team to go through the new process and it is something we believe will only assist our athletes on the world stage," Schueller said. "To get more international games at the high standard of the Asian championships can only help us long term. We are very aware of the quality of the nations we will play and look forward to seeing our style of basketball against the best in Asia."

"For us, it's exciting to be the first Australian team to go through the new process and it is something we believe will only assist our athletes on the world stage."Justin SchuellerJustin Schueller

The coach will come to Foshan with high expectations, just like always.

"For any Australian team in a qualification our expectation is to win and qualify, and it is no different for us," Schueller said. "The landscape has changed but our expectations have not. We want to get better with each game, and if we do that we know we can be the best in Asia."

Australia's quest to the top of Asia will begin in Group B, where they will play against Philippines and Malaysia.

Justin Schueller (behind head coach Mark Watkins) has the experience of being an assistant coach for Australia at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016. 

"It's exciting to have the draw complete now and allows us to get to work on two great opponents in our pool in Malaysia and the Philippines," said Schueller. "We can't wait for the first game."

The coach said there are a lot of reasons to like his team.

"It's very important, it's everything to us. The Australian U17 men have a proud and strong history in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, and we want to continue this and build our own part to it."Justin SchuellerJustin Schueller

"We are built with great depth, athleticism, length and shooting ability," he said. "We love our group and the versatility we have through our positions. It will allow us to play a traditional Australian style of play."

That's not to say that Australia will not be challenged.

"This team's challenge is how quickly we can gel in our first round of international games," said Schueller, who was an assistant coach for Australia at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016. "This group will represent Australia for the first time at the event, not having a previous series to this. So wearing the green and gold for the first time and how quickly we bring it together is something or which we are conscious."

The absolute minimum goal for Australia is the Semi-Finals - in order to qualify for this summer's FIBA U17 World Cup 2018, which will be played from June 30-July 8 in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.

"It's very important, it's everything to us. The Australian U17 men have a proud and strong history in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, and we want to continue this and build our own part to it," said Schueller, referring to Australia finishing second on the U17 global stage in 2012 and 2014 and losing to eventual champions United States in the 2010 Quarter-Finals and the hosts Spain in the 2016 Quarter-Finals.

"We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to add to this, but that being said, all we are looking forward to right now is Asia and to get better."

FIBA