Boomers set to face Korea for first time in almost 10 years in Bendigo

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The road to defending the Asia Cup title for Australia will begin in Bendigo on February 22, 2024. The Boomers also played in Bendigo in August 2022 for a window of the World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in a win against Iran.

This first game of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers will be between Australia and Korea in a clash between two Asia Cup powerhouses. It will be nearly 10 years since the two senior men's national teams faced each other in a FIBA setting after an encounter at the 2014 World Cup, where the Boomers emerged victorious in Spain.

Australia have been undefeated in the Asia Cup, leading to two consecutive championships in 2017 and 2022, making them heavy favorites to qualify for the Final Round of the Asia Cup which will be hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

However, the Boomers have not been perfect in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, suffering a loss to New Zealand, 108-98, in the opening game of the very first Asia Cup Qualifiers. Nonetheless, they swept through their remaining games of the Qualifiers and the Asia Cup itself in Jakarta for a second consecutive title.

The Boomers are excited to be playing at home to venture on the Road to the Asia Cup, especially with the potential to see what new talents can emerge with the chance to put on the green and gold.

"It's always great playing at home; there is nothing like it, I love it and so do the team, you lift for the crowd, and I know Bendigo are mad basketball fans so it will be a great atmosphere. These games provide an opportunity to look at some athletes that will be in consideration for Paris and introduce some new younger players to be exposed to 'Boomers Culture' and international basketball," said Goorjian, as per Basketball Australia.

The previous cycle of the Qualifiers saw Boomers debuts for the likes of Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey, both of whom have gone on to feature at the World Cup, as well as promising prospects like Tyrese Proctor and Alex Toohey.

Korea will be looking to bounce back from an Asia Cup campaign that saw them finish in 6th place, only their 3rd time not making it to the Semi-Finals of the competition.

Australia and Korea are in Group A, along with Thailand and Indonesia.

Like the previous cycle, the top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, for a total of 12 teams.

The six 3rd-place teams from each group, meanwhile, qualify to play in a qualifying tournament for 3rd-placed teams. The top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the Asia Cup, completing a field of 16 teams.

FIBA