Australia Boomers vs New Zealand Tall Blacks, Melbourne Game 2007
The rivalry between the Australia Post Boomers and the New Zealand Tall Blacks has reached dizzying heights in the past two years â and not because some players are over 7 feet tall.
This time a spot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing is on the line.
The Boomers will play the final match of the 2007 FIBA Oceania Menâs Championship and Australia needs to win the series for the right to play in Beijing.
The Boomers will be without local star CJ Bruton and ex-Sydney King Matthew Nielsen due to injury, but will be bolstered by the inclusion of international stars Luke Schenscher, David Andersen and young superstar Joe Ingles.
The three game Championship will be played in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on August 20, 22 and 24.
Previous games between the two teams have been battles of epic proportions. Australia defeated New Zealand to win the Gold Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in a cliff hanger last March, 81-76.
New Zealand then enacted revenge by taking home the Ramsay Shield after defeating Australia in the four game 2007 Resi Mortgage Test Series on a points count back after the series was tied at two games apiece.
âWe donât have any advantage over New Zealand,â Boomers Head Coach Brian Goorjian said.
âIt puts a lot of pressure on the team to play at our absolute best.
âWeâre up against it now and weâll need all the crowd support we can get.â
Dates, venues, ticket prices and contact details follow.
The rivalry between the Australia Post Boomers and the New Zealand Tall Blacks has reached dizzying heights in the past two years â and not because some players are over 7 feet tall.
This time a spot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing is on the line.
The Boomers will play the final match of the 2007 FIBA Oceania Menâs Championship and Australia needs to win the series for the right to play in Beijing.
The Boomers will be without local star CJ Bruton and ex-Sydney King Matthew Nielsen due to injury, but will be bolstered by the inclusion of international stars Luke Schenscher, David Andersen and young superstar Joe Ingles.
The three game Championship will be played in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on August 20, 22 and 24.
Previous games between the two teams have been battles of epic proportions. Australia defeated New Zealand to win the Gold Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in a cliff hanger last March, 81-76.
New Zealand then enacted revenge by taking home the Ramsay Shield after defeating Australia in the four game 2007 Resi Mortgage Test Series on a points count back after the series was tied at two games apiece.
âWe donât have any advantage over New Zealand,â Boomers Head Coach Brian Goorjian said.
âIt puts a lot of pressure on the team to play at our absolute best.
âWeâre up against it now and weâll need all the crowd support we can get.â
Dates, venues, ticket prices and contact details follow.
Quote:Game 1 - Monday 20 August 2007
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne
Tickets from ticketek.com.au (13 28 49)
Ticket prices from:
Adult $26
Child $10
Family $62
Game 2 - Wednesday 22 August 2007
Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney
Game 3 - Friday 24 August 2007
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall