Australia have muscled their championship credentials, bagging two straight wins in the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Oceania Under 17 Tournament, which commenced on October 2nd at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex in Port Moresby.
The FIBA Oceania U-17 reigning Champions (Australia) came with all guns blazing in the tournament, annihilating Guam 143-24 on the first day (October 2) and thumping Samoa 123-63 on the second day (October 3). The high-flying Australians were unstoppable against Guam and Samoa, as clearly shown by the big margins they put on the two mentioned countries.
The Australian team has all-around players. They have the ability, versatility, and ball-playing prowess to attack the rim from any angle – whether it is a lay-up, mid-range shot, pull-up jumper, or 3-point shooting, to name a few. They are strong defensively, too. Their arsenal is full of ammunition to shoot down any opponents.
On the flip side, New Zealand have also registered a dominant win over PNG. The only team that can match Australia is New Zealand. Both sides have skillful, lanky, and utility players, who are dangerous on the court – both offensively and defensively. The Aussies and Kiwis match each other in every department. It is certain that one of these two teams will walk away with the ultimate prize at the end of the tourney.
Australian coach, Robbie McKinlay, said even though he was happy for his team’s solid performances in the last two days of the tournament, he and his coaching staff are wary of New Zealand.
“We have started well. Obviously, New Zealand is very good. We have to be at our best and nail down on a few things on the defensive side of the ball and hopefully get a bit more consistency in our games,” McKinlay said.
Australia will meet New Zealand on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:00 pm. This much-anticipated match promises to leave the avid basketball fans on the edge of their seats, as the two heavyweights go head-to-head. This game should be a mouth-watering affair to watch.
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