Today the Commonwealth Games 2018 commences. It is a controversial competition, but here in the land of sports of Australia, it remains welcomed with open arms. Along with this comes the 8 team basketball competition.
On the back of a excellent NBL season, this competition provides even more basketball to watch over the coming weeks and some intriguing games. Although Australia are heavy favourites to take home and far and away the highest ranked team going in (10th in the FIBA World Rankings). The competition follows a strange format with the top 4 seeded teams (Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria and Canada) in Pool A. The top two will progress straight to the semi’s whilst the bottom two will face the top 2 of Pool B (England, Scotland, Cameroon and India). This will lead to the top teams getting more opportunity to make the final however and when the gold medal match comes round it could be an intriguing affair.
As the Australian side will pretty well known to readers here, the following is a short preview of the everyone else (and the New Zealand Breakers)
Pool A
Nigeria
FIBA World Ranking: 31
Ike Diogu – The most NBA experience in the competition and FIBA African Championship 2017 MVP.
The Nigerian team will be made up of 6 local players and 6 internationals. This choice to make up the team mainly with locals is respectable and will be interesting to see how it comes together. The team is made up of relative unknowns and includes several unattached players based in the USA (Olantunji Olalekan Graham, Ofoegbu Uchechi Chima, Achiuwa Godsgift Onyekachi) and is captained by Ike Diogu who plays for Sichuan Blue Whales in China’s CBA.
Ike played in the NBA from 2005 to 2012 where he averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds. At 34, he is no longer at the height of his career but he won the FIBA African Championship MVP in 2017 on Nigeria’s way to second in the competition.
New Zealand
FIBA World Ranking: 38
Looking to go all the way this time, New Zealand are full strength and ready.
Yes the New Zealand Breakers are 38th in the world. The side is made up almost entirely of NBL talent as well as Australia. The majority are from the New Zealand Breakers system (Shea Ili, Tom Abercrombie, Jordan Ngatai, Mika Vukona, Finn Delany, Alex Pledger, Rob Loe) and players from other NBL clubs (Jarrod Kenny, Reuben Te Rangi and Tohi Smith-Milner). Of the back of a disappointing semi final defeat the New Zealand Breakers will be wanting to bounce back here in the Commonwealth Games.
Spearheaded by Paul Henare and Aaron Fearne, both recently out of jobs with New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans respectively, they could have a point to prove. Lots of players who have just played a whole season together? Could be the biggest threat to Australia’s gold medal chances.
Canada
FIBA World Ranking: 23
Canada are the youngest side going in and reigning U19 world champions
Canada’s basketball teams are making their mark internationally, with strong recent performances such as gold at the U19 Men’s World Cup, bronze at the U19 Women’s World Cup and gold at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
This will be their first Commonwealth Games and they come in with the second highest rank. The NBA players will not be at the Commonwealth Games and Canada travel to Australia without their biggest names, including experienced NBA players Kelly Olynyk, Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson and Jamal Murray. Therefore the side is made up entirely of players in the college basketball system. This young side may struggle in a Pool full of professional players, but they will most likely be up for the experience. Expect the games with them to be closer than expected. It would not be surprising if Canada take one of the top seeds in the pool.
Pool B
England
FIBA World Ranking: ~40 (Great Britain)
Not many snakes in England
The opening game against Scotland is intriguing. Many of us have heritage to these countries and seeing just how they stack up with the Australia is an interesting concept, but given the structure of the competition it is unlikely. So far the England team has been a hit in Cairns and are hoping for a medal in these games after both them and Scotland almost had to pull out of the competition due to funding.
They are spearheaded by Jamell Anderson who plays for FG La Roda in Liga Silver in Spain. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.12 rebounds in his latest season on 21 minute per game. The rest of the team is made up of players playing within England and Adam Thoseby from the Sydney Kings. Thoseby averaged 5 minutes this season here in the NBL.
Goal one will be top of Pool B for England to maximise their chances of getting to the medals.
Scotland
FIBA World Ranking: ~40 (Great Britain)
Kieron Achara – Great Britian captain looking to guide Scotand past England
Rob Beveridge from the Illawara Hawks is taking the reigns for Scotland. His expierence against the players in Australia and New Zealand could serve them well, if they get to that stage.
They are lead by Kieron Achara, the captain of the Great Britain side and currently playing for Glasgow Rocks and average 13.38 points on 24 minutes. They also feature another Great Britain player in Gareth Murray also from front court of he Glasgow Rocks. The entire team plays within Great Britain. Advantage or disadvantage? We will find out. They have simiar aspirations to England, aiming to end in the medals.
Cameroon
FIBA World Ranking: 65
Team Cameroon doing their bit for local Basketball in Queensland
The worst ranked team going into the competition. Quarter finalists at the FIBA African Championship when they were knocked out by fellow Commonwealth side, Nigeria.
They have played some local games in Queensland which gained local attention. Known for Joel Embiid who will not be part of the games it will be interesting to watch how this team performs.
India
FIBA World Ranking: 62
Amritpal Singh – Looking to help India out of Pool B and to win their first international of the year at the same time.
The team that recently scored an own goal and forgot to register their two star players for the FIBA qualifiers in the last window is surprisingly buoyant about their chances in this tournament. They are yet to win a FIBA Qualifier and continue to lose at the international level. Amjyot Singh and Amritpal Singh are the key players for India.
Amritpal Singh has been here in Sydney this season and most readers will be somewhat familiar with him. Amjyot Singh plays in the NBA G League and is only the 3rd Indian to do so. He is averaging 3 points on 8 minutes with Oklahoma City Blue. The team has been in training camp for 2 months pre the tournament – more than any side – and has high hopes. Although not the lowest ranked side they are easily the weakest side going in.
So there you have it, a few words on every side in the tournament. Enjoy the near daily basketball over the next few weeks and although its a small tournament follow along and show your support for the Boomers and all the teams involved.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
