FIBA Basketball
FIBA - It's a Boomers v Tall Blacks final
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - The Commonwealth Games men's basketball final will be a repeat of the women's after Australia and New Zealand both won their semi-finals on Wednesday. Following on from their
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - The Commonwealth Games men's basketball final will be a repeat of the women's after Australia and New Zealand both won their semi-finals on Wednesday.
Following on from their female counterparts, who clinched semi-final victories on Tuesday, the Boomers and Tall Blacks prevailed in their respective matches against England and Nigeria to set up a mouth-watering final showdown. Australia shrugged off a brave effort from England to reach the gold medal game with a 101-75 win while they were joined by New Zealand following their 90-66 triumph over Nigeria in the later game.
Both the Boomers and Tall Blacks will play at the FIBA World Championship in Japan later this year. New Zealand talisman Pero Cameron set the early pace for his side, scoring nine of his 18-point haul in the opening period, which the Tall Blacks won 23-17. Fellow Olympian Aaron Olson then took charge as New Zealand extended their lead to 17 points at the interval before the Kiwis headed off an attempted Nigeria fightback to ease home in the final period. Olson led all scores with 25 points - which included seven three-pointers - while he also handed out eight assists to help his side into the final.
"We are really happy to make the gold medal game," Olson said.
New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin added: "It was a tough game. I was expecting a tough game from Nigeria. We really shot them off in the fourth quarter.
"It was close. You have to give them credit for fighting back."
It was also tough for tournament favourites Australia as England gave them a run for their money in their semi-final, especially early on. England took a 17-15 lead on the back of a John Amaechi free throw but a 9-0 run from Australia helped put the home side in front 27-23 at the end of the first quarter.
The hosts weren't able to build on that advantage in the second period as England matched the Boomers blow-for-blow and trailed by just four points at the break, 50-46. The third period was a poor one for England, though, and Australia took advantage to extend their lead to 77-58, a difference that proved too much for the visitors.
England coach Pete Scantlebury admitted: "We played really well in the first half, but a game's got 40 minutes and we lost our concentration.
"In terms of points, the game looks down, but in terms of effort, it's a positive."
England veteran John Amaechi, the most famous player ever to emerge from the country who spent several seasons in the NBA, added: "I'm obviously disappointed. There are lessons we need to learn as a team. We're not consistent; we need to understand what wins."
Julius Joseph top-scored for England with 18 points while Robert Reed had 14 rebounds to go with his six points in a losing cause. Australia's Jason Smith paced his side with 18 points but it was the all-round performance of Sam McKinnon, who scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked two shots, that was perhaps the key to the Boomers win.
Co-captain CJ Bruton said: "Sam virtually kept us in the game in the first half. He's our most valuable player, he does it all. He's a great asset to the team."
Rising star Brad Newley also praised the performance of Smith, while highlighting just what a Commonwealth gold medal would mean to his team.
"Jason Smith, how good was he?" Newley said. "He closed the game out."
Basketball is one of the leading sports at the Olympics Games and it has such a tremendous appeal internationally that FIBA have enlarged their World Championship to 24 teams. There have been concerns that the sport may not be a part of the next Commonwealth Games in India, though.
"People can say what they like about basketball being played at the Commonwealth Games, but to us it's everything, because Australia has never won a medal before and we've got the chance to win gold," Newley added.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA
Following on from their female counterparts, who clinched semi-final victories on Tuesday, the Boomers and Tall Blacks prevailed in their respective matches against England and Nigeria to set up a mouth-watering final showdown. Australia shrugged off a brave effort from England to reach the gold medal game with a 101-75 win while they were joined by New Zealand following their 90-66 triumph over Nigeria in the later game.
Both the Boomers and Tall Blacks will play at the FIBA World Championship in Japan later this year. New Zealand talisman Pero Cameron set the early pace for his side, scoring nine of his 18-point haul in the opening period, which the Tall Blacks won 23-17. Fellow Olympian Aaron Olson then took charge as New Zealand extended their lead to 17 points at the interval before the Kiwis headed off an attempted Nigeria fightback to ease home in the final period. Olson led all scores with 25 points - which included seven three-pointers - while he also handed out eight assists to help his side into the final.
"We are really happy to make the gold medal game," Olson said.
New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin added: "It was a tough game. I was expecting a tough game from Nigeria. We really shot them off in the fourth quarter.
"It was close. You have to give them credit for fighting back."
It was also tough for tournament favourites Australia as England gave them a run for their money in their semi-final, especially early on. England took a 17-15 lead on the back of a John Amaechi free throw but a 9-0 run from Australia helped put the home side in front 27-23 at the end of the first quarter.
The hosts weren't able to build on that advantage in the second period as England matched the Boomers blow-for-blow and trailed by just four points at the break, 50-46. The third period was a poor one for England, though, and Australia took advantage to extend their lead to 77-58, a difference that proved too much for the visitors.
England coach Pete Scantlebury admitted: "We played really well in the first half, but a game's got 40 minutes and we lost our concentration.
"In terms of points, the game looks down, but in terms of effort, it's a positive."
England veteran John Amaechi, the most famous player ever to emerge from the country who spent several seasons in the NBA, added: "I'm obviously disappointed. There are lessons we need to learn as a team. We're not consistent; we need to understand what wins."
Julius Joseph top-scored for England with 18 points while Robert Reed had 14 rebounds to go with his six points in a losing cause. Australia's Jason Smith paced his side with 18 points but it was the all-round performance of Sam McKinnon, who scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked two shots, that was perhaps the key to the Boomers win.
Co-captain CJ Bruton said: "Sam virtually kept us in the game in the first half. He's our most valuable player, he does it all. He's a great asset to the team."
Rising star Brad Newley also praised the performance of Smith, while highlighting just what a Commonwealth gold medal would mean to his team.
"Jason Smith, how good was he?" Newley said. "He closed the game out."
Basketball is one of the leading sports at the Olympics Games and it has such a tremendous appeal internationally that FIBA have enlarged their World Championship to 24 teams. There have been concerns that the sport may not be a part of the next Commonwealth Games in India, though.
"People can say what they like about basketball being played at the Commonwealth Games, but to us it's everything, because Australia has never won a medal before and we've got the chance to win gold," Newley added.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA