Boomers Huge Win over Bahrain

Some of the brightest talents preparing for NBL23 put on starring performances as the Australian Boomers remained unbeaten in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 54-point win over Bahrain on Thursday night.

The second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers got underway on Thursday night at Khalifa Sport City in Bahrain, and a Boomers team featuring seven current NBL players and another couple of former championship winners proved to be a class above the host nation.

The victory improves the Boomers to a perfect 7-0 record now for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers to be in the box seat to earn an automatic spot at next year's tournament to be held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Angus Brandt delivered 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, Rhys Vague 10 points and six rebounds, Mitch McCarron six points and three assists, Sam Froling six points and nine rebounds, and Todd Blanchfield eight points and five boards.

Alex Mudronja also had five points and four rebounds for Australia, Alex Toohey five points and two assists, Mitch Norton four points and six assists, Nick Kay two points and six assists, and Rory Hawke two points.

It was Bahrain who opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer to Ahmed Alderazi before Australia got on the board courtesy of a layup from Mitch McCarron.

Sam Froling then sent a message inside by throwing down a dunk up one end and then blocking an attempted layup up the other from Alderazi and sending the ball packing.

It took more than five minutes for Australia to begin pulling away, though, starting with Rhys Vague scoring soon after entering the game and then Alex Mudronja knocking down a three-pointer. 

Aggression taking it inside then became the order of the day to start the second half for Australia with early buckets to Froling, Todd Blanchfield and Vasiljevic. Blanchfield then stepped up to drain one from long-range before an Angus Brandt dunk saw Australia's lead grow to 33 points.

The Boomers continued to enjoy themselves throughout the fourth quarter and piled on another 25 points to nine on the way to the eventual 104-50 victory.

Australia will now return home to play host to Iran in Bendigo on Monday night.

FIBA WORLD CUP – ASIAN QUALIFIERS
SECOND ROUND, GROUP F

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 104 (Vasiljevic 22, Travers 17, Brandt 17)

BAHRAIN 50 (Chism 16, Isa 12, Rashed 8) 

BOX SCORE