Australian Boomers squad members Joe Ingles and Aleks Maric have starred for their respective European club teams in the third-fourth playoff of the Euroleague Final Four overnight in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Whilst both players were disappointed after their clubs lost their respective Semi-Finals on Friday night, both Australians still came out firing in the consolation final.

Ingles, who played three seasons in the National Basketball League between 2006 and 2009, had 13 points as well as two assists, one rebound and one steal for his Spanish club FC Barcelona Regal as they defeated Maric’s Greek team Panathinaikos, 74-69 (click here to see boxscore), to clinch third place. 

Despite his side’s loss Maric was also impressive with 13 points, 11 rebounds, one steal and one assist. 

After the match, which was played before a big crowd of 15,262 fans, Ingles said the game would now provide a springboard for his Spanish club’s domestic title bid.

"It is not ideal to play this (consolation) game - of course, we wish we could have played the final, but it is good to get to the Spanish League playoffs with a win under our belt,” said Ingles. “I am happy that we won and the number of points I scored is not really important as long as we win. Like I said, now we have to move on. We lost two games in the entire Euroleague season, but we lost at the wrong time. It has been a great experience, but I wish I could be getting ready to play the final out there."

Maric was frank in his assessment of his club’s performance.

"There is no excuse in motivation,” Maric said. “We lost. We didn't come out and fight. Against a big team such as Barcelona, every game is like a final game. You lose and you move down one spot, so there is no excuse. We have amazing fans, there are more than 4,000 of them here in Istanbul, most of any team. A big thank you to them for sticking around for the third place game and being with us. We will need them for the (Greek domestic) championship series against Olympiacos."

In the Euroleague Final, Greek team Olympiacos came from 19 down to stun Russian club CSKA Moscow 62-61 and clinch the title.

After the Australian pair finish their European club commitments, they are expected to join the Boomers as they prepare for London. 

A critical part of that preparation will be The Farewell Series, which will see the Boomers take on Greece in a three-game series in Victoria in June.  The series will commence with a double-header with the Jayco Australian Opals at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena on 24 June. 

Tickets are now on sale for all Australian Boomers and Jayco Australian Opals games of The Farewell Series.

For more information on The Farewell Series visit: www.thefarewellseries.com.au.

Farewell Series Schedule

Hisense Arena, Melbourne (Double Header)
Sunday June 24
Jayco Opals v Brazil – Tip Off 4:30PM
Boomers v Greece – Tip Off 7:00PM
Tickets available now through Ticketek
Phone: 132 849
Website: www.ticketek.com.au

State Basketball Centre, Knox
Monday June 25
Boomers v Greece – Tip Off 7:00PM
Tickets available now through Foxtix
Phone: 1300 111 369
Website: www.foxtix.com.au

Bendigo Basketball Stadium
Tuesday June 26
Jayco Opals v Brazil – Tip Off 7:00PM
Tickets available now through Bendigo Basketball Stadium
Phone: (03) 5440 6214
Website: www.bendigostadium.com.au

Geelong Arena
Wednesday June 27
Boomers v Greece – Tip Off 7:00PM
Tickets available now through Foxtix
Phone: 1300 111 369
Website: www.foxtix.com.au

State Basketball Centre, Knox
Thursday June 28
Jayco Opals v Brazil – Tip Off 7:00PM
Tickets available now through Foxtix
Phone: 1300 111 369
Website: www.foxtix.com.au