Boomers Continue Asia Cup Charge with Win Over Saudi Arabia

The Australian Boomers shook off a tough opening quarter to produce some dominant basketball with NBL stars including Sam Froling, Keanu Pinder and Mitch McCarron leading the way in an eventual 76-52 FIBA Asia Cup victory against Saudi Arabia.

It was the second Group A match up for the Boomers at the 2022 Asia Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia on the back of beating Jordan on Tuesday evening 78-60.

Australia backed up again in Jakarta on Thursday and despite a slow start which saw them trail Saudi Arabia by three points at quarter-time, and then despite a five-minute scoring drought either side of three quarter-time, it was a commanding performance.

The Boomers especially dominated with 24 points to seven to set up a 14-point half-time advantage which led into the 24-point victory which leaves them unbeaten two matches into their Asia Cup title defence.

Despite some rough moments in the opening quarter and then either side of three quarter-time, it was an overall dominant showing from the Boomers with the team made up largely of NBL stars while including future guns Tyrese Proctor and Alex Ducas.

The Boomers ended up forcing Saudi Arabia into 18 turnovers from which they scored 29 points while they also had 14 offensive rebounds to seven for 14 second chance points to five along with 34 points in the paint to 18.

Thon Maker backed up his tremendous performance against Jordan on Tuesday by leading the Boomers once more with 16 points and six rebounds including hitting back-to-back threes in the third quarter.

Tyrese Proctor is currently part of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellent ahead of spending the upcoming season with Duke and he was superb hitting 15 points including 3/6 from beyond the arc.

Keanu Pinder was a strong presence inside for Australia as well to finish with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists while Sam Froling delivered 10 points and seven boards including a posterising throwdown in the fourth quarter.

Adelaide 36ers captain Mitch McCarron sparked the Boomers into action with a pair of three balls in the first half on his way to 10 points, five rebounds and three assists with Rhys Vague adding five points and three boards, Will McDowell-White five points and six assists, and Alex Ducas two points and two assists.

Fahad Belal top-scored for Saudi Arabia with 16 points with 4/8 shooting from downtown with Khalid Abdel-Gabar adding 14points and five rebounds.

While Australia did start the game reasonably well with an early bucket to Thon Maker and then three-pointer to Rhys Vague, it wasn’t the first quarter coach Mike Kelly was looking for with some sloppy turnovers, rough shooting and allowing Saudi Arabia in for 18 points.

The Boomers scored just 15 points for the quarter on shooting 5/17 from the floor and 3/8 from the foul line.

The Boomers then fell down six to start the second quarter when Saudi Arabia hit a three, but it was Sam Froling who sparked the fightback with a nice dunk in transition and then dropping a three.

Mitch McCarron then landed his second three-pointer after missing two free-throws before Tyrese Proctor and Keanu Pinder also landed triples to see Australia assume control.

A 6-0 run then closed the half for the Boomers thanks to Alex Ducas, Pinder and Proctor to see the reigning Asua Cup champions go into the main break leading 39-25. Saudi Arabia scored just four points the rest of the second quarter after that early three-pointer.

Australia continued the momentum to start the third quarter with an and-one from maker and another strong finish from Froling to push the lead out to 19.

Maker then showed his quality by knocking down two three-pointers and then scoring inside to go on his own 8-0 run to push the Australian lead out to 23, and it was 25 when Pinder scored again inside with three minutes left in the third quarter.

However, the Boomers wouldn’t score for the rest of the quarter with Saudi Arabia closing it out with three triples. They hit another to start the fourth and suddenly it was just a 13-point ball game.

Australia answered the challenge once more with a 10-0 run that started with Will McDowell-White connecting from deep. Froling threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk as well and that ended up setting up the eventual 24-point win for the Boomers.

The Boomers will conclude their Group A match ups by taking on the host nation Indonesia on Saturday evening.

FIBA ASIA CUP 2022 – GROUP PHASE

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 78 (Maker 16, Proctor 15, Pinder 13)

SAUDI ARABIA 52 (Belal 16, Abdel-Gabar 14, Abo Jalas 7, Almarwani 7)

BOX SCORE