Bullets forward Daniel Kickert says NBL players must step up for Boomers in FIBA Asia Cup
BOOMERS and Brisbane Bullets forward Daniel Kickert says Australia will enter the FIBA Asia Cup with a legitimate “target ’’ on the back of their green and gold singlets.
The Boomers have the highest world ranking (10th) of the 16 nations that will gather in Lebanon for the tournament from August 8-20 ahead of China (14th) and New Zealand (20th).
The Boomers squad is made up of NBL players with Australia’s NBA contingent unavailable for selection.
There is a strong Queensland flavour in the 12-man side that will be coached by Brisbane Bullets head coach Andrej Lemanis.
The maroon-grown quartet of Todd Blanchfield, Mitch McCarron, Matthew Hodgson and Mitch Norton will suit up for the Boomers along with Bullets star Kickert and Cairns captain Cam Gliddon.
The squad spent nine days in camp on the Gold Coast and will open their campaign against Japan on August 8.
Kickert said the Boomers will carry the extra weight of expectation into the tournament.
“We should be the best team in Asia so there will be a target on our backs now,’’ he said.
“It’s on us NBL guys to go out there and win it with the big names unable to play.
“It’s a good opportunity for the NBL guys to keep growing that Australian brand.’’
The Boomers team also contains Olympians David Anderson and Brad Newley after being cut down from an original squad of 20 that trained at the new indoor complex at Carrara.
“It was a really good camp. We got to know each other and learned how to play alongside each other and everyone is really excited about getting the chance to represent their country,’’ Kickert said.
Boomers’ Asia Cup Schedule
August 8: Australia v Japan
August 10: Australia v Hong Kong
August 12: Australia v Chinese Taipei
August 17: Quarter-Finals
August 19: Semi-Finals
August 20: Medal games
Author: GREG DAVIS, The Courier-Mail
Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/bullets-forward-daniel-kickert-says-nbl-players-must-step-up-for-boomers-in-fiba-asia-cup/news-story/3bdd21dd17c4b9da10811c4a2538256f
The Boomers have the highest world ranking (10th) of the 16 nations that will gather in Lebanon for the tournament from August 8-20 ahead of China (14th) and New Zealand (20th).
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| Daniel Kickert in action for the Bullets. |
There is a strong Queensland flavour in the 12-man side that will be coached by Brisbane Bullets head coach Andrej Lemanis.
The maroon-grown quartet of Todd Blanchfield, Mitch McCarron, Matthew Hodgson and Mitch Norton will suit up for the Boomers along with Bullets star Kickert and Cairns captain Cam Gliddon.
The squad spent nine days in camp on the Gold Coast and will open their campaign against Japan on August 8.
Kickert said the Boomers will carry the extra weight of expectation into the tournament.
“We should be the best team in Asia so there will be a target on our backs now,’’ he said.
“It’s on us NBL guys to go out there and win it with the big names unable to play.
“It’s a good opportunity for the NBL guys to keep growing that Australian brand.’’
The Boomers team also contains Olympians David Anderson and Brad Newley after being cut down from an original squad of 20 that trained at the new indoor complex at Carrara.
“It was a really good camp. We got to know each other and learned how to play alongside each other and everyone is really excited about getting the chance to represent their country,’’ Kickert said.
Boomers’ Asia Cup Schedule
August 8: Australia v Japan
August 10: Australia v Hong Kong
August 12: Australia v Chinese Taipei
August 17: Quarter-Finals
August 19: Semi-Finals
August 20: Medal games
Author: GREG DAVIS, The Courier-Mail
Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/bullets-forward-daniel-kickert-says-nbl-players-must-step-up-for-boomers-in-fiba-asia-cup/news-story/3bdd21dd17c4b9da10811c4a2538256f
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