BASKETBALL

FIBA ASIA CUP

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

AUSTRALIA has moved into the quarter finals of the FIBA Asia Cup after sweeping the group stage that launched the competition last week in Saudi Arabia, with the Boomers shooting for three successive gold medals.

Traralgon’s Jack White was selected to the Boomers squad, after a period on the sidelines that didn’t allow him to don the green and gold during qualification games.

Having won the previous two gold medals at the Asia Cup, and displayed dominance during the qualifiers (for which Traralgon hosted two matches last February), entering as the clear cut favourite to take out gold yet again.

White is chasing his first gold medal for Australia in senior competition.

While this is the first outing for newly-instated Boomers coach Adam Caporn, who took over from Olympic bronze medal coach Brian Goorjian, White still has familiar names on the bench, with Melbourne United head coach Dean Vickerman an assistant for Australia’s Asia Cup run.

The Boomers campaign began against a familiar opponent, Korea, whom they played in the qualifiers, with Australia starting off well with a 97 to 61 finish.

Proceedings started off relatively competitive, with the margin kept close for a majority of the opening term before the Boomers leapt ahead to lead by eight points at the first break.

That gap went even wider as play resumed in the second quarter, as Australia entered halftime up 48-31.

While Korea attempted to gain momentum as they returned to the court, the Boomers responded every time, and subsequently extended their lead to its largest point by the time the final buzzer sounded.

In White’s first official hit out for Australia since the 2023 FIBA World Cup, he produced five points, an equal team-high eight rebounds, and one assist in close to 19 minutes of action.

The Boomers had a closer affair against Lebanon in their next game, still winning 93-80.

Australia were comfortably ahead through three quarters, leading by 24 points heading into the final turn, however, Lebanon finished the match with a 20-9 final quarter, bringing some scares to the green and gold.

White had six points, 10 rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes during that game.

The day after, Australia easily dispelled of Qatar, 110-82, despite a hotly contested first half.

The Boomers held just a three-point lead heading into the main break, before they returned with added fire to produce a 64-39 second half.

White had four points, five rebounds and two steals across 18 minutes in that outing.

With the match between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines happening after the Express goes to print, Australia play the winner of that game tonight (Wednesday, August 11).

 

ELSEWHERE, White has put pen to paper on a deal for the upcoming season, and it’s not in the NBL.

White has signed with Turkish basketball club, Mersin MSK, which competes in Turkey’s Basketball Super League.

Last season, Mersin MSK lost in the quarter finals of the playoffs after finishing in sixth on the standings during the regular season.

That team featured Australian Will Magnay, who had a brief stint with New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA in 2021, and is currently White’s teammate on the Boomers.

The Traralgon star returned to Melbourne United for the 2024-2025 NBL season, after two years in the NBA system.

White won an NBA championship with Denver Nuggets in 2023, before featuring in the G-League (reserves competition) for a majority of the following season.

He was given a 10-day contract from Memphis Grizzlies in the final week of the 2023-2024 season, before signing with United where he won an NBL title in 2021 (missed closing stretch due to achilles injury).

White was a key part in Melbourne United’s run to the grand final last season, averaging 13.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

They would ultimately fall to Illawarra Hawks in tight five-game series.

After declining his player option in his United contract, White most recently suited up for German basketball club, FC Bayern Munich, where he won a Basketball Bundesliga championship in just three months with the squad.

The Turkish Basketball Super League begins in October, which is also its 60th anniversary season.