Boomers face Czech challenge

Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis says his side internally shed the country’s famed underdog tag years ago – but only now is the Australian public starting to realise. The Boomers continued their unbeaten run at the 2019 World Cup on Monday night when they claimed a thrilling 100-98 win over European giants France. Australia now play the Czech Republic tonight (11pm) in their first final-eight match since the 1994 World Championships in Canada. The Boomers’ impressive charge towards a maiden medal in China has shocked some people within the basketball community who are used to Australian teams being dogged but falling at the final hurdle but Lemanis insists his players have always had the belief they could star on the world stage. He revealed the team’s selflessness and confidence was a seed first planted when the Boomers qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. “The underdog status has been permeated more externally than it has internally for some time now,” Lemanis said. “As a group, after we qualified for the Rio we sat down and spoke about how we are going there to win a gold. “We truly believe that we have the talent, camaraderie and mateship to get that done. “Belief is an important element, so is skill and teamwork and luck but belief is good to have.” Lemanis said he is expecting a tough challenge from the Czech Republic in tonight’s quarter-final. He also knows he won’t have to motivate his players for the occasion. “It is a quarter-final of a World Cup so if we can’t get up for that game, then we don’t deserve to win,” he said.