The Australian Women’s Under 21 basketball team, the Sapphires, won the Four-Nation Pre-World Championship Tournament in Spain over the weekend, winning all of their three games.

The Sapphires used the tournament to prepare for 2007 FIBA World Championships for Under 21 Women which begins on June 29 in Moscow, Russia

The Sapphires are in Group A alongside recent victims Brazil and Spain as well as Team USA, Hungary and Japan. 

They begin their World Championship campaign against Team USA on Friday, June 29 followed by games against Hungary, Spain, Japan and Brazil prior to the finals.

Wollongong born Adelaide Lightning guard Renae Camino was awarded the leading tournament point scorer trophy after tallying 56 points, an 18.7 average.

“The team continues to show improvement week by week and will keep on working hard to get better,” Head Coach Gary Fox said.

“We played China a month ago and we beat them by 8 so coming off a very lengthy flight it was a great effort from our girls to get such a decisive win. 

“Whilst the team struggled to get defensive stops and were troubled by the Brazilians athletic ability that was another good win for the team.”

Against China, Camino scored a game high 26 points while Chantella Perera (University of Fresno) added 16 points and Kathleen MacLeod (Bendigo Spirit) contributed 10 points and 7 assists.

Against Brazil, Camino again scored a game high 23 points with Bendigo Spirit duo Jenna O’Hea and MacLeod scoring 18 points and 12 points respectively.

In the final game against Spain O'Hea top scored for the Sapphires with 16 points while 2006/07 defencejobs WNBL Rookie of the Year Cayla Francis added 10 points in support.

2007 FIBA World Championship team:

Abby BISHOP               Booleroo Centre, SA               Canberra Capitals

Renae CAMINO           Wollongong, NSW                  Adelaide Lightning
Mikaela DOMBKINS    Newcastle, NSW                     Sydney Uni Flames
Rebecca DUKE            Attadale, WA                           Adelaide Lightning
Cayla FRANCIS            Mt Barker, SA                          AIS
Rachel HERRICK          Sydney, NSW                           Sydney Uni Flames
Kathleen MACLEOD    Melbourne, VIC                       Bendigo Spirit
Jenna O’HEA               Traralgon, VIC                         Bendigo Spirit
Heather OLIVER          Adelaide, SA                           Central Ariz. College, USA
Elyse PENALUNA         Carlton, VIC                            Dandenong Rangers
Chantella PERERA       Melbourne, VIC                      CSU, Fresno, USA
Rachel WATMAN        Sydney, NSW               Oral Roberts Univ, Tulsa, USA

Head Coach: Gary FoxAssistant Coach: Chris LucasAssistant Coach: Dean KinsmanManager: Trudy PearcePhysiotherapist: Lisa RolloDoctor: Dr. Sandra Mejak