AUS - Maric arrives to boost Boomers

MELBOURNE (FIBA World Championship) - Australia have received an unexpected but major boost ahead of the FIBA World Championship after Aleks Maric declared himself available to play.

The Boomers won a tug of war with Serbia earlier this summer for the services of Maric, who has represented Australia at youth level but has dual nationality and had the option to switch teams as he is yet to play at senior level.

But that victory had seemed moot because, as recently as two days ago, Basketball Australia had been saying Maric was extremely unlikely to be in Turkey as he rested from a long season with Partizan Belgrade.

Instead, the 6ft 11in center, who has just signed for Panathinaikos after earning All-Euroleague honours with Partizan last season, told the Boomers he will be in camp when the team gathers in Melbourne this weekend.

"It was a long, tough, gruelling season in Europe that went right up to the 20th of June, and at that point all I wanted to do was rest and get my mind off basketball because the season was so long," said Maric.

"I’d been in contact with coach (Brett) Brown all the time and he said take as much time off as you need and just don’t forget about us.

"I did that, as I’d always had the ambition to play for Australia, especially in the World Championships. So I took some time off and relaxed and thought about my options and I came back refreshed and anxious to play for Australia. It was a quick decision when I came back from vacation."

Maric won gold with Australia at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship on a team that also featured Andrew Bogut. He also played at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship for Australia.

With Bogut missing in Turkey due to an elbow injury, Maric hopes he can bring some extra toughness to Australia's team.

"(I think I can bring) physical and emotional toughness," Maric said. "That’s what I brought to my team in Europe and I feel that’s something I can bring to this team

– toughness. Everyone in the world knows Australian teams are renowned for their toughness."
Boomers coach Brett Brown is delighted to have Maric available.

"Al, like many of our players, has put his country first with his acceptance of our invitation to play with us," Brown said. "His talents, physical presence, and most importantly, his team-first attitude, will fit in perfectly with our current group. We are all excited to welcome him into our team."

Maric will now be part of a 16 man squad in Melbourne, featuring the 12 players who finished second in the Stankovic Continental Cup in China last weekend, plus youngsters Hugh Greenwood, Matthew Dellavedova and Alex Loughton.

Australia squad: David Andersen, David Barlow, Aron Baynes, Matthew Dellavedova, Adam Gibson, Hugh Greenwood, Joe Ingles, Alex Loughton, Steven Markovic, Aleks Maric, Damian Martin, Patrick Mills, Brad Newley, Matthew Nielsen, AJ Ogilvy, Mark Worthington.

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