Boomers Secure Hard-Fought Victory Over New Zealand in World Cup Qualifier Opener
Australia started their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought five-point victory over New Zealand in Hobart. The Boomers had to battle through some tough moments, trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter before securing an 84-79 win on Friday night. The game was tied at 75-75 with four minutes remaining, but a crucial three-pointer by William Hickey gave Australia a four-point lead with 36 seconds left.
Jaylin Galloway of the Sydney Kings was the game's joint top-scorer with 19 points, contributing three rebounds and two assists. Despite being on the wrong end of the foul count and losing the rebound battle, the Boomers managed to hold off the Tall Blacks, who had a height advantage. It would have been a significant upset for New Zealand, ranked 25th in the world, to defeat 6th-ranked Australia on foreign soil.
Sam Mennenga of the NZ Breakers put in a strong performance with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The teams are set to face each other again on Monday night in Wellington. Australia initially opened up an eight-point lead in the first quarter, but New Zealand fought back to trail 27-24 at the end of the first period. The Tall Blacks took a six-point lead into halftime, leading 48-42.
The Boomers surged ahead by seven points early in the third quarter, but New Zealand once again rallied to take a one-point lead heading into the final quarter. The Tall Blacks may have concerns about Taylor Britt's fitness after he left the game with a knee issue in the last period. Australia was missing key players like Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Will Magnay, and Owen Foxwell due to NBA commitments and injuries.
Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam are part of Group A in the Asian qualifiers, with the top three teams advancing to the next stage. A total of eight teams from the Asian qualifiers, including hosts Qatar, will qualify for the World Cup in August 2027. The Boomers will look to build on their opening victory as they aim to secure their spot in the prestigious tournament.