International Basketball returns to Geelong - Tickets on Sale Now!
Australia’s World Champion Jayco Opals will host Japan in an ‘Opals World Challenge’ three-game friendly series from June 9-11 as they prepare to defend their world title.
The Opals World Challenge is the only chance fans will have to see the Jayco Opals play in Australia before their tilt at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in September in the Czech Republic.
The World Champions will travel to Bendigo to play the series opener on June 9 before returning to The Geelong Arena and Dandenong Basketball Stadium where they played in front of sold out crowds in 2009 in a friendly series against China.
The Jayco Opals squad for the series will be boosted by the return of a number of European-based athletes.
Prior to the Opals World Challenge the Australians will hold a training camp at Dandenong Basketball Stadium from June 5-8 with 16 players in attendance including Olympians Laura Summerton, Jenni Screen, Erin Phillips, Hollie Grima, Kristi Harrower and Alicia Poto. All 16 athletes attending the training camp will take part in the friendly series with a rotating 12-player team selected for each game.
Jayco Opals Head Coach Carrie Graf said she will use the tournament to continue evaluating the players for World Championship team selection.
“For us it’s a really good opportunity to look at players, it’s the first chance I’ll have to work with some of our Beijing Olympians in Laura Summerton, Jenni Screen and Erin Phillips who will be back which is huge for us,” Graf said.
“It’s great to have those three players back in Opals uniforms and playing on our shores. We will get a continued look at some of the athletes that performed really well in the April camp so I think the series is another good step in our World Championship campaign.”
Japan, ranked 14th in the world by FIBA, will also use the tournament as preparation for the world championship after qualifying for the world titles with a bronze medal at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship.
Released from the Jayco Opals squad after the April training camp are Rachael Flanagan and Natalie Hurst following the inclusion of guards Kathleen MacLeod and Samantha Richards who have returned from playing commitments in Europe.
Unavailable for the series are stars Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, Belinda Snell and Tully Bevilaqua due to WNBA commitments. Abby Bishop has been named in the squad but her participation is dependent on her involvement with the Seattle Storm WNBA team.
Tickets go on sale on Monday May 17 from the venues – ticketing details below.
AUSTRALIA V JAPAN SERIES SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Wednesday June 9: Australia v Japan 7.00pm tip off at Bendigo Stadium
Tickets from the Bendigo Spirit office on (03) 5440 6220 or at the door.
Thursday June 10: Australia v Japan 8.00pm tip off at The Geelong Arena
Tickets from Basketball Geelong on (03) 5277 1388, at www.basketballgeelong.com.au, or at The Geelong Arena.
Friday June 11: Australia v Japan 8.00pm tip off at Dandenong Basketball Stadium
Tickets from Dandenong Basketball on (03) 9794 7192 or at Dandenong Basketball stadium
JAYCO OPALS SQUAD FOR OPALS WORLD CHALLENGE
Name/Club/Age/Junior Association
Abby BISHOP / Dandenong Rangers / 21 / Forestville & North Adelaide, SA
Elizabeth CAMBAGE / Bulleen Boomers / 18 / Dandenong, VIC
Hollie GRIMA / Frisco Sika Brno (Czech Republic) / 26 / Launceston, TAS
Kristi HARROWER / Bendigo Spirit / 35 / Bendigo, VIC
Kathleen MacLEOD / Reze Nantes Basket 44 (France) / 23 / Nunawading
Jenna O’HEA / Bulleen Boomers / 22 / Nunawading, VIC
Elyse PENALUNA / Bulleen Boomers / 22 / Broadmeadows, VIC
Erin PHILLIPS / Lotos Gdynia (Poland) / 24 / North Adelaide, SA
Alicia POTO / Dynamo GUVD Novosibirsk (Russia) / 32 / Campbelltown, NSW
Samantha RICHARDS / KSSSE AZS-PWSZ Gorzow (Poland) / 27 / Nunawading, VIC
Jennifer SCREEN / Basket Parma (Italy) / 28 / Toowoomba, QLD
Deanna SMITH / Sydney Uni Flames / 29 / Bendigo, Warrnambool & Melbourne, VIC
Laura SUMMERTON / Basket Parma (Italy) / 26 / Sturt, SA
Marianna TOLO / Canberra Capitals / 20 / Mackay, QLD
Carly WILSON / Canberra Capitals / 27 / Nunawading, VIC
Hanna ZAVECZ / Bulleen Boomers / 24 / Wangaratta, VIC
Head Coach: Carrie Graf
Assistant Coaches: Michele Timms, Peter Buckle, Phil Brown
Manager: Renae Maycock
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