The Australian Boomers will be out to continue their domination at the FIBA Asia Cup, when they take on China in the quarter-finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:30pm (AEST).
The Boomers have been excellent during their first foray into the Asian competition, playing without their NBA superstars, and arguably some of the bigger NBL players.
The only Rio Olympian on the squad, David Andersen has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with injury, but it’s been forward Mitch Creek leading the way after he recently spent time in the NBA’s summer league.
Australia have come away with three big wins during the group stage, going over Japan 84-68, Hong Kong 99-58 and Chinese Taipei 90-50.
All of those wins have seen Australia unchallenged at either end of the floor, with Creek averaging 15.7 points and almost two steals a game. Sydney Kings star Brad Newley has also been on fire, leading the way for assists and adding plenty at the offensive end as he did during the previous NBL season.
As a team, the Boomers are going at more than 60 per cent from the field, although their shooting behind the arc is down to 30. China do hold an edge there, but haven’t faced a defence like the Aussies yet.
The Chinese team played the Philippines, Qatar and Iraq during the group stage, losing their first game by nine, before picking up a pair of narrow victories to qualify for the next stage of the tournament.
A 25-point win over Qatar put them in good stead, before they held their nerve to beat Iraq 61-60 in a low-scoring game.
That moved them into the qualification matches for the quarter-final, where they came away with another tight two-point win over Syria.
While China are proving their worth in getting out of tight situations, the quality of opponent leaves plenty to be desired, as does their discipline with the team conceding 20 fouls per game and being out re-bounded comprehensively.
If they are to fire here, then Ailun Guo will be the key man. He has averaged 18 points per game for the tournament, the guard also chipping in with creativity and good perimeter defence.
Recently, an all-NBL Australian team toured China, losing the series. While much of the team is similar for the Boomers, there was some serious home-cooking during that series for the hosts, and playing in Lebanon will not afford them the same level of decisions.
The winner will move onto the semifinals with a likely match-up against New Zealand, who play Jordan in their quarter-final.
Prediction
The Boomers should be far too strong for China here. Despite the Chinese beating the NBL team at home, playing out of China has been a bridge to far in the past, and will be here with the Boomers matching up better man for man across the roster.
Boomers by 18.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this quarter-final from 1:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back on Sunday Morning with that semi-final, but before then you can join me for NRL action from 7:50pm (AEST) this evening. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Australia then, will play either New Zealand or Jordan in the semi-final on Sunday Morning (AEST). That match starts in about 45 minutes.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, Australia don't need to do anything with seconds left on the clock, and they don't. Mitch Norton dribbles it out, with the Australian's taking a big quarter-final win over China in Beirut. There is plenty to work on for Australia, but those issues arising mainly came out of the first half. Given they had a five-day break coming into this game, those issues can be excused. Still, a better team would have put them away with relative ease. They didn't have that of course, and they could only play what was in front of them - China. The Chinese started the match strongly, but the first seven minutes were an illusion with China's attack quiet for the rest of the day, while the Boomers clawed their way back and then got to the front. Australia - 97 China - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Li makes both at the line. Australia - 97 China - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Zeng fires up an air all from deep for China now. Blanchfield controls back down the floor for the Boomers before he runs past a screen, kicks it to Blanchfield and he misses the three. Foul on the rebound as well. We will walk the floor with 13.6 seconds remaining. Australia - 97 China - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Another turnoer for China before McCarron makes a tough runner through the lane. Boomers closing on a century of points. Australia - 97 China - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' McCarron adds the extra. Australia - 95 China - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' China are really, really struggling here. A sloppy foul and it's McCarron to the line. Australia - 94 China - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Misses at both ends here before Zeng goes off to the races and makes the easy transition bucket. Back at the other end and Kickert makes another three. He has 16 points for the match now. Australia - 94 China - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Muhao makes one. Australia - 91 China - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Three's for both teams with a big off the ball foul on Kickert's. The points will count, but Muhao will walk the floor for free throws. Australia - 91 China - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Hodgson misses both again. Australia - 88 China - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' China emptying their bench. Zeng with a shot from the post, before Australia miss a few, get a few offensive rebounds and then pick up a foul. Hodgson will go to the free throw line again. Australia - 88 China - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Hodgson misses both. Australia - 88 China - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Bounce pass on the inbound here and it's Hodgson who goes up for the shot, but is contacted pretty heavily and he will go to the line. Australia - 88 China - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' China turn it over again, and it's Cadee to slow things down up the floor for the Australian's. Whistle off the ball and that's a foul against Yu Dehao. He is fouled out with five. Australia - 88 China - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Lovely ball movement, and Cadee is wide open in the corner to sink the three. Australia - 88 China - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' China now find themselves at the foul line through Li Gen. He makes both. Australia - 85 China - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' China down 26 points and they call their final timeout. It looks like the defending champions of Asia will be sent packing. Australia - 85 China - 59