Boomers Through to Asia Cup Quarters Undefeated

The Australian Boomers have gone through the group phase of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup unbeaten overcoming a raucous crowd and hot start by host nation Indonesia for the eventual 78-53 win on Saturday night.

It was the third game of Group A action in Jakarta, Indonesia for the Boomers and following 78-60 ad 76-52 wins against Jordan and Saudi Arabia respectively, they faced a large, loud and vocal Indonesian crowd on Saturday night.

The Indonesia team fed off that energy too and put together a strong opening quarter, but the Boomers steadied in the second period and controlled proceedings the rest of the way as they geared up for the knockout phase attempting to go back-to-back in Asia Cup triumphs.

It was a nervous start from the Boomers in the hostile environment, but once they steadied after some calming words from coach Mike Kelly at quarter-time, it was a third straight emphatic and impressive showing with their inside presence especially standing out.

Australia collected 18 offensive rebounds to 10 for the game which led to 19 second chance points to eight along with 42 points in the paint to 22. The depth of the Boomers was on show too with 45 bench points to 12.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Checking out some of the best bits from the Boomers&#39; 78-53 <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAAsiaCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIBAAsiaCup</a> win over Indonesia in front of a rowdy crowd in Jakarta overnight ?<br><br>Australia advanced through the group phase unscathed and now waits to find out who their Thursday Quarter-Final opponent will be ? <a href="https://t.co/S6sdfcmmjs">pic.twitter.com/S6sdfcmmjs</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1548494324953886721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having yet to even step foot in Duke University yet, Tyrese Proctor showed a glimpse of his future with a standout performance for the Boomers. The 18-year-old produced 14 points with 3/6 shooting from downtown.

Rhys Vague put up another 11 points and four rebounds with Thon Maker keeping his good form going with 11 points and nine boards while fellow big men Sam Froling (10 points, seven rebounds) and Keanu Pinder (10 points, four boards) impressed.

Will McDowell-White also finished with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk seven points, Mitch McCarron four points and five assists, and Alex Ducas three points and three rebounds.

It was a remarkable atmosphere early with the raucous crowd at fever pitch when Indonesia dropped two early three-pointers. They were even wildly cheering on missed shots from Australia early on but a couple of strong inside finishes from Sam Froling and Mitch McCarron brought the Boomers level.

The home nation continued to thrive on the energy of the crowd to score the next six points and there were even boos showering down on the Boomers at times as they tried to settle into their offence.

In the end it was Centre of Excellence young gun Tyrese Proctor who hit a steadying triple for the Boomers and then the two young guns combined. Alex Ducas grabbed an offensive board and set up Proctor for a finish in close.

Indonesia was still up 16-11 by the end of one with the Boomers shooting just 5/19 in a nervous opening to the contest in front of the remarkable atmosphere.

Australia began to steady when Thon Maker converted an and-one before a nice finish inside from Sam Froling tied scores up. Keanu Pinder then finished a nice hook shoot after a spin move before Ducas showed his range and drained a three ball.

Rhys Vague then continued his good shooting form this week to drain a three and a triple from Proctor just before half-time saw Australia go into the break up 34-24.

It was the inside presence of Maker, Froling and Pinder keeping Australia up by more than double-figures through the first half of the third quarter. Vague then drained another long ball to push Australia's lead out to 15.

Proctor's standout game continued as he connected another from deep to put the Boomers back up 13 and the lead continued to grow with a thunderous alley-oop slam from Maker, a nice floater in the lane from Will McDowell-White and Australia was up 57-42 after three.

Just as Indonesia was building some momentum, a huge triple from Froling snuffed it out to keep Australia in control before an inside finish from Pinder stretched the lead to 16.

A three-point play from Vague pushed the advantage out to 20 and then new Illawarra Hawks signing Wani Swaka Lo Buluk hit a late three-point bomb with Australia on the way to the 78-53 win.

FIBA ASIA CUP 2022 – GROUP PHASE

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 78 (Proctor 14, Maker 11, Vague 11)

INDONESIA 53 (Bolden 18, Grahita 8, Van Dorn Jawato 6, Xzavierro 6)

BOX SCORE