With the Boomers World Cup Qualifying campaign set to tip-off on Friday afternoon AEDT in Okinawa, Japan, here’s everything you need to know.
The youthful Boomers line up will be led by the experience of Nick Kay, with the Tokyo Olympian and feature of the Japanese B-League adding Boomers’ captain to his resume for the World Cup qualifiers. The announcement comes as a nod of recognition for Kay as he continues to develop as a leader of the national team.
“To represent Australia at any level is a huge honour but to do so as a Boomer, knowing the history and culture of the program and its players, is one the proudest and most meaningful experiences of my life,” Kay told BA Media.
“I still remember sitting in the hotel room with Lemanis and Longley after my first Boomers camp, nervous as can be, and being told I made my first Boomers team, that smile would not leave my face. That feeling flooded back to me as I was asked to captain the Boomers team for the February FIBA window.
“Spending time with the quality leadership group of Patty, Joe, Baynes and Delly, I’ve learnt so much about what it means to be a Boomer and I hope I can use that to instill that Boomers’ culture into the young group we have here in Okinawa. The opportunity to wear the green and gold doesn’t come around very often so I am very excited to share this experience with the quality group we have here and the nine first-time Boomers.”
Boomers Asian Qualifiers Head Coach, Rob Beveridge is delighted to see Kay rewarded for his hard work and dedication.
“It has been a privilege to watch Nick grow both as a player and person over the past few years. He is one the hardest working and most professional players that I have coached, and it is great to have Nick lead the team as Captain for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Japan,” Beveridge said.
FIBA QUALIFYING INFORMATION:
With 16 teams set to compete at this weekend’s Asian qualifiers, the Boomers have drawn in group B, alongside China, Chinese Taipei and Japan.
This event is the second of three windows that make up the first qualifying round, with the third window to take place this June.
With a win-loss record carrying through each round, the top three teams from each group will then proceed to the second round of qualifying events set between August 2022 and February 2023.
As World Cup 2023 co-host nations, the Philippines and Japan have an automatic qualification, with the top three teams from the second round of qualifiers rounding out the final eight.
AUSTRALIA ASIAN QUALIFYING SCHEDULE
Friday 25/2, 5:05pm AEDT: Australia v Chinese Taipei
Sunday 27/2, 8:30pm AEDT: Australia v Japan
Monday 28/2, 5:30pm AEDT: Australia v Chinese Taipei
All games are available for broadcast via ESPN/Kayo Sports.
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