China - Yao Ming's Aussie showdown
IT'S the dream match-up that just might save basketball in this country. Imagine Australia's Andrew Bogut against China's Yao Ming in the final of the Asia-Pacific championship qualifying series for the 2012 London Olympics. The chances of that happening are growing, with basketball's international governing body FIBA strongly pushing for a merger between the Asia and Oceania zones.
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IT'S the dream match-up that just might save basketball in this country.
Imagine Australia's Andrew Bogut against China's Yao Ming in the final of the Asia-Pacific championship qualifying series for the 2012 London Olympics.
The chances of that happening are growing, with basketball's international governing body FIBA strongly pushing for a merger between the Asia and Oceania zones.
In April, FIBA tabled a discussion paper on the benefits of merging the Asia and Oceania qualification zones at both senior and junior level.
FIBA's Australian-born president Bob Elphinston believes if basketball in Australia is to fulfil its potential, the Boomers and Opals have no option but to give up direct qualification for the Olympics and world championships through the Oceania zone, which is made up of 21 Pacific Island nations with a total population of 34 million.
"The reason for that discussion paper is that Australia and New Zealand clearly need more competition,'' Elphinston said.
"Secondly, Australia and New Zealand need greater opportunities for television exposure and income, and one is linked to the other.
"Asia, at the same time, would benefit very much from having the high-quality competition that Australia and New Zealand would offer.''
The Socceroos' successful move out of Oceania to FIFA's Asian qualifying zone has football booming in Australia and has provided the blueprint for basketball's future.
Australia might be the No2-ranked nation in the world for basketball - the powerhouse Opals have won silver and gold at the last Olympics and world championships respectively, and the Boomers are a top-10 team - but neither side gets any meaningful television coverage at home or corporate backing by belonging to Oceania.
That could change almost overnight if the Boomers and Opals get the opportunity to take on China, with its population of 1.3 billion.
Regular and meaningful international competition against China, the heavyweight of the 44-nation Asia zone - as well as Japan, Korea and the Kiwis - would give Australia access to new commercial opportunities.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian supports the idea of joining Asia as a key part of the reform that basketball in Australia is undertaking, but he remains wary of the potential threat China presents.
"It all makes wonderful sense if we qualify for the worlds and the Olympics,'' Goorjian said.
Basketball Australia chief executive Scott Derwin says he doesn't yet have a position on joining Asia.
"We're not saying we are opposed to it, we just need a lot more information,'' he said.
However, Elphinston, who is waiting to hear back from Basketball Australia, is hopeful common sense will prevail.