Redemption on Rebecca Allen's mind heading into rematch with Japan in Semi-finals

BENGALURU (India) - This might not have been the ideal path towards the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Semi-finals that Rebecca Allen and Australia had in mind. Nonetheless, here they are once again as one of the remaining 4 teams contending for the title as the best in Asia.

“It’s just fantastic,” Allen said of playing in the Asia Cup. “This is a test for us. Every game is important and every game we’re getting better, so we can see what we want to do and how we want to play.”

The Opals had won their first two games in a landslide, winning by an average margin of 52.0 points. Then in their final game of the Group Phase. Australia were defeated 70-69 by China in a duel down to the wire that saw Shao Ting deliver the go-ahead basket.

The loss dropped the Opals to second place in Group B, meaning they would miss out a direct ticket to Semi-finals and had to play their way in. However, Australia knows best that taking  a loss now is better than losing in the last game of the competition with the championship on the line - as they did 2 years ago.

 

That’s the main thing on their minds right now.

“Redemption,” said Allen of the Opal’s title game loss in 2017. “That’s the reason we want to get the title. I know we lost the other day to China but that’s just another game for us to learn from. I think we had this extra game to gel and get better as a group, and obviously we’re going for the title.”

After convincingly beating Chinese Taipei, 90-51, to make it through to the Semi-finals, Australia are set to face their nemesis, Japan. It will be the first time have met ever since the Women’s Asia Cup 2017 Finals. Allen wasn’t on the squad that time, but that doesn’t make it less exciting for her heading into the rematch.

Is she looking forward to go up against 2-time MVP Ramu Tokashiki?

“Of course!” Allen said. “I mean everybody from Japan, too. They are going to be a good challenge for us and we welcome a good challenge. I know they are going to bring a good game just as we are.”

Australia will be going into the Semi-finals clash as one of the most well-rounded teams in the competition. They are only one of two teams that have at least 4 players scoring at least 9.0 points per game with Allen among the top scorers at 9.8 points per contest. The Opals are also leading every team with 29.3 assists per game.

To win the Women’s Asia Cup requires a team effort and that’s a mindset that Allen and Australia have had from the beginning.

“It definitely helps whenever you come into an international format on the court with all these girls who are the best in the country. You have to be on your A-game,” Allen had said in the training camp leading up to the Asia Cup.

“We’re lucky because its a great group of women. I know [Coach Sandy Brondello] sort of leads them in the front and it sort of trickles down so its a really good environment to be a part of and something that none of us take for granted at all.”

(Coach Sandy Brondello)

“I think when you start playing for each other and playing for your coach, that’s when you get the best out of your group,” added the 26-year-old forward.

As a group and as a unit, Allen and Australia are playing with a mission to claim the Asia Cup trophy. There is also a bit more to play for every time they step on the hardwood, knowing that young fans are watching.

“It’s not even for just the next up-and-coming Opals; I think it’s about all girls that want to play basketball. Not even just from Australia but from everywhere,” Allen said.

“We’re hoping to be good role models and good people to look up to.”

FIBA