Australian basketball has continued its hoodoo over Brazil with the Boomers defeating the athletic South Americans 89-84 at the Acropolis Tournament in Athens.

Last time the two teams met the Australia Post Boomers beat Brazil 83-77 at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Australia’s women’s team, the Opals, twice defeated Brazil during their unbeaten Gold Medal run at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for women, overcoming raucous home crowds on both occasions.

Today it was veteran centre Chris Anstey leading his country to victory and capping all scorers with 24 points.

South Australia’s Brad Newley added 17 points in his best game on tour while 19-year old point guard Patrick Mills showed great maturity to bounce back from a tough game against Greece to contribute 10 points.

Boomers head coach Brain Goorjian praised the heart of all of his payers but reserved special praise for his Melbourne Tigers centre.

“The boys performed very, very well and there was great production from a lot of young guys,” Goorjian said.

“Patrick Mills, Joe Ingles, Brad Newley all had sensational games and were up a level from the Greece game.

“And we had a standout performance from Chris Anstey. He probably, in all honesty, was our best player throughout the tournament and he played his best game tonight.”

Brazil came into today’s match against Australia as favourites after comfortably defeating Croatia, who chalked up back-to-back victories against the Boomers, and rode their good form to a 28-21 lead after one quarter of play.

Australia lifted in the second quarter and put a stranglehold on Brazil’s offence that restricted the Latino legends to just 13 points for the period.

The Boomers galloped into the main break ahead by seven points, 48-41, and vowed in the locker room to end this European tour on a high.

The action was aggressive in the second half with the two teams going basket for basket before Australia held its nerve down the stretch to record a satisfying five point win.

Marcelo Machado (20 points) and Marcelo Huertas (19) were Brazil’s best.

Greece cruised past Croatia 77-64 today and was named as winner of the event for the fourth straight year.

Anstey finished the tournament fifth in scoring and rebounding and second in blocked shots.

The Boomers will arrive back in Australia on Saturday night and enjoy two days rest before entering their final training camp on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

Quarter by quarter:
1: BRA 28 AUS 21
H: AUS 48 BRA 41 (27-13)
3: AUS 66 BRA 60 (18-19)
F: AUS 89 BRA 84 (23-24)

AUSTRALIA 89 – Chris Anstey 24, Brad Newley 17, Patrick Mills 10 bt
BRAZIL 85 – Marcelo Machado 20, Marcelo Huertas 19, Alex Garcia 15
at Acropolis Tournament, Athens

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS for points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks:

For more information please contact:
Bill Baxter
Basketball Australia
T: 02 9469 7218
M: 0423 378 644
E: bill.baxter@basketball.net.au