In less than a week, the Australian Boomers will play against the best that Asia has to offer in the FIBA Asia Cup, starting on the 8^th of August in Lebanon.  Although the Boomers haven’t sent their best possible squad, their all NBL roster are the favourites to take the gold medal.

As at writing, the Boomers are 3:1 favourites to win it all, with host nation Lebanon in second place at 3.75:1 and China in third at 5:1.  Our neighbours to the east, New Zealand, are fourth at 9:1, but don’t expect Syria to make much noise as they are dead last in the betting at 251:1.

There are four-time slots for games during the twelve-day competition, with the earliest being 8:30 pm, but the latest is a red eye inducing four in the morning.  Hopefully, everyone either takes work off the next day or records games on Foxtel.

That’s right, Fox Sports on Foxtel will be broadcasting every game live, from the opening game between Kazakhstan and New Zealand, all the way to the gold medal match.

Australia’s entry into this competition is a big deal, as it brings not only Australian basketball into the heart of Asia, but the NBL as well.  This team is made entirely of NBL players, so the Asia Cup should bring media attention to the league as well as the Boomers.

Australia’s FIBA Asia Cup Group Games (all games start at 11 pm)

August 8^th – vs. Japan

August 10^th – vs. Hong Kong

August 12^th – vs. Chinese Taipei

FIBA Asia Cup Schedule (all times AEST)

Tuesday 8^th August

8:30 pm – Kazakhstan vs. New Zealand

11:00 pm – Japan vs. Australia

Wednesday 9^th August

1:30 am – Hong Kong vs. Chinese Taipei

4:00 am – Lebanon vs. Korea

8:30 pm – China vs. Philippines

11:00 pm – Iran vs. India

Thursday 10^th August

1:30 am – Iraq vs. Qatar

4:00 am – Jordan vs. Syria

8:30 pm – Chinese Taipei vs. Japan

11:00 pm – Australia vs. Hong Kong

Friday 11^th August

1:30 am – Korea vs. Kazakhstan

4:00 am – New Zealand vs. Lebanon

8:30 pm – Qatar vs. China

11:00 pm – Philippines vs. Iraq

Saturday 12^th August

1:30 am – India vs. Jordan

4:00 am – Syria vs. Iran

8:30 pm – Japan vs. Hong Kong

11:00 pm – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia

Sunday 13^th August

1:30 am – Korea vs. New Zealand

4:00 am – Kazakhstan vs. Lebanon

8:30 pm – Iraq vs. China

11:00 pm – Philippines vs. Qatar

Monday 14^th August

1:10 am – Iran vs. Jordan

4:00 am – Syria vs. India

Qualification games for the quarter finals are scheduled on Monday 14^th and Tuesday 15^th, with the quarter finals on Wednesday 16^th and Thursday 17^th.  The semi-finals will be played on Saturday 19^th, with the bronze medal match and gold medal game being contested on Sunday, August 20^th.  Times for the finals have not been announced.