AUS - Opals team for FIBA Oceania Championship announced

SYDNEY (FIBA Oceania Championship for Women) - Basketball Australia is pleased to announce the twelve athletes selected to represent Australia at the 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women in Dunedin later this month.

Reigning World Champions Australia have already qualified for Beijing, so the remaining teams in Dunedin are competing for the Oceania Zone berth with the third team filling a spot at a second-chance repechage tournament next July.

The Championship will be a three way contest between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, who won the South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa last week.

The tournament begins on September 26 and concludes on September 29 with all games played at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.

“This team should get us the results we need while a number of players will be challenged by the international competition,” Australian Defence Force Opals head coach Jan Stirling said.

“We have provided a good number of athletes with the opportunity to demonstrate how they can adjust to the international game and we expect New Zealand will be very tough on their home soil.”

All 12 players are contracted to teams in the Australian Defence Force Women’s National Basketball League.


The 2007 Australian Defence Force Opals team for the FIBA Oceania Championship:

Alicia POTO (Guard)
Kathleen MACLEOD (Guard)
Renae CAMINO (Guard)
Abby BISHOP (Forward)
Marianna TOLO (Centre)
Michelle BROGAN (Forward)
Carly WILSON (Guard/F)
Emma RANDALL (Forward/C)
Emily McINERNY (Forward)
Natalie PORTER (Forward/C)
Rohanee COX (Forward)

Touring staff:

Jan STIRLING  (Head Coach)
Gary FOX (Assistant Coach)
Jennifer BLACK (Physiotherapist)
Scott BURNE (Doctor)
Diana GLAZER (Massage Therapist)
Luke GALLAGHER (Technician)
Marian STEWART (Team Manager)


Tournament schedule:

Sep 26          AUS v NZ      Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 27          AUS v FIJI     Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 28          NZ v FIJI       Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 29          Final (1 v 2)   Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Bill Baxter