GLIDDON NAMED IN BOOMERS SQUAD

AUSTRALIAN men’s basketball coach Andrej Lemanis says the Boomers welcome the added expectation that comes with being heavy gold medal favourites at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next month.

The 12-strong squads for the Australian men’s and women’s teams – which include the Far North’s Cameron Gliddon and Cayla George – were released yesterday, with both the Boomers and Opals in the box seat to salute on home pine.

The last time basketball was played at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, both Australian sides took gold.

Given the quality of the Australian squads, nothing is expected to change on the Gold Coast, with preliminary pool matches to be played in Townsville and Cairns before the medal rounds on the tourist strip. New Zealand and Canada present the biggest threats to a homegrown gold rush.

Elizabeth Cambage headlines an Opals that includes WNBL championship-winning Townsville Fire star Cayla George, London Olympian Jenna O’Hea and veteran Belinda Snell, who was part of the Australian side that won Commonwealth gold in 2006.

The Boomers squad is entirely made up of NBL players, with the Australians in the NBA and Europe unavailable due to club commitments.

In last year’s FIBA Asia Cup and the first round of the World Cup qualifiers, the Australianbased Boomers have a win-loss record of 10-0 with an average win margin of 27.1 points.

Rio Olympians Chris Goulding and Damian Martin will be joined by the likes of Brisbane sharpshooter Daniel Kickert in a settled squad, with veteran swingman Brad Newley the sole survivor from the 2006 success in Melbourne.

Sydney Kings guard and Rio Olympian Kevin Lisch withdrew due to ankle surgery.

Lemanis said the favourites tag had to be embraced.

“It means we go in with a good level of confidence but it doesn’t change anything in terms of how we prepare,’’ Lemanis said. “We will still need to focus on us and be the best team we can be.”