AGONY IN OVERTIME
THE Australian Boomers’ World Cup basketball hopes ended in agony last night, with Spain winning the first semi in double overtime 95-88 in Beijing. Australia plays for bronze tomorrow.
AUSTRALIA’S unbeaten World Cup run is over in heartbreaking fashion, but the Boomers can still claim a bronze medal.
Spain ended the Aussies’ hopes of finishing in the top two with a devastating 95-88 double-overtime win in last night’s semifinal. The Boomers led by as many as 11 points late in the third quarter, but they could not execute in the big moments as the Spanish came back to haunt the Aussies after denying them a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
A controversial foul call on Andrew Bogut in the final seconds of regular time did not help the Boomers.
Australia will now play the loser of last night’s late France versus Argentina semifinal from 10pm in the bronze medal game tomorrow night.
Australia could not contain a formidable Spanish side down the stretch led by NBA stars Juancho Hernangomez, Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio.
Patty Mills topscored with 32 points to continue his sublime form.
Mills’s strong performance only enhanced his chances of being named the World Cup MVP. But he will kick himself after missing a crucial free-throw in the final seconds of regular time that would have won the Boomers the match.
Andrew Bogut was also enormous for Australia with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Boomers legend Andrew Gaze was at the game last night and was devastated at fulltime to see the Boomers come so close yet lose another international classic.
“Of course we will be disappointed not to win the gold, but that is just the expectations of this team,” Gaze said.
“It would still be a remarkable achievement even if we win a bronze medal.
“But basketball in Australia doesn’t sell the sport like we should.
“The popularity and the significance of the sport globally is huge and our country needs to understand that. Hopefully the message and the recognition starts to get through for what the Boomers and the sport more broadly is achieving.”
Spain had a slender 22-21 lead following a fast and tense first-quarter. Turnovers proved costly for Australia in the first half. The Boomers had opportunities to extend their lead but a lack of concentration on the offensive end denied them this chance.
The Australians rallied in the second quarter on the back of Mills to surge to a 32-24 advantage.
Spain refused to go away and made their run in the third quarter.