Lack of preparation means gold is no slam dunk for Boomers

BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis says the pride and passion that comes with wearing the green-and-gold singlet will help Australia overcome a “challenging” Commonwealth Games preparation.

The squad will have had just two training sessions together before facing Canada tonight in Cairns with late withdrawals, injuries and NBL grand final commitments making for a bumpy road to the start of the men’s pool games.

Mitch Creek, Australia’s best player at the Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers, pulled out of the side to play in Europe while Matt Hodgson (knee) was also a late withdrawal for the NBL-based Boomers.

Guards Chris Goulding and Nathan Sobey joined the camp late after the grand final series went to five games.

Lemanis said while the build-up had been less than ideal, the excitement around representing their country on home soil and the team-first attitude in the Boomers camp would help clear early hurdles.

‘‘This group certainly plays the right way and they play for the name on the front of the singlet, not the back of it,’’ Lemanis said.

“The guys love playing for their country and they are so proud to wear that singlet so it is a pretty special thing we are about to embark on.”

As opposed to a ‘‘run, gun and stun’’ approach to make a statement against the Canadians, the gold medal favourites will be building momentum on the run with a view to playing their best later in the Games.

“We haven’t really been able to get into a good rhythm at the moment but part of this is growing throughout the tournament,’’ Lemanis said.

“We’ve got the three pool games to find that rhythm and work our way into it.”

The Opals also start tonight, against minnows Mozambique in Townsville.

Australia will be led by dual Olympian Liz Cambage in her return to the national squad in what is also the first game in charge for new Opals coach Sandy Brondello.

Despite her experience playing in the WNBA, China and leading the Melbourne Boomers to this year’s WNBL grand final, Cambage insists she is still learning her craft.

“I still like to think of myself as one of the young ones,” she said. “I’m not a veteran yet.

‘‘I’m still 26, I’m still a baby, I’m trying to hold on to that.”