Aussies Abroad: Boomers star in NBA, Opals shine in China

Aussies Abroad: Boomers star in NBA, Opals shine in China

It was a memorable weekend for the Australian Boomers contingent in the NBA, with all four of our stars posting impressive performances as the2014 season begins to take shape.

Andrew Bogut had arguably his best game of the season in the Golden State Warriors 102-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday (AEDT), posting 12 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 32 minutes.

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He wasn’t the only Boomers star making a splash as Matthew Dellavedova continues to impress the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching staff, making his first NBA start on Saturday in the 104-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dellavedova backed up this performance, with 34 minutes off the bench on Sunday as the Cavs were crushed by Patty Mills, Aron Baynes and the San Antonio Spurs 126-96. Delly posted career highs in minutes, points (14 points on 6-of-8 FG) and steals (4) in the loss.

On the other side of the court, it was a productive day at the office for Boomers duo Mills and Baynes, as Mills dropped 15 points (3-of-6 3FG) and 3 assists in 23 minutes, while Baynes had 6 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes.

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Bogut backed up his season-best performance, with 4 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks in the 113-101 loss to Portland on Sunday.

Check out Matthew Dellavedova and his Cleveland Cavaliers as they face the Miami Heat on Thursday LIVE on ESPN at 11:30am (AEDT).

Jayco Australian Opals star Liz Cambage has started the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) season with a bang, dropping 43 points in the season-opening win for her new team Beijing over Shenyang 103-74.

Cambage did not miss a field goal attempt (19-of-19) for the game and added 3 blocked shots to an impressive first game. The 2012 London Olympian had 19 points as Beijing went top of the WCBA ladder, with a 95-71 win over Shandong on Saturday.

Fellow Opal Lauren Jackson has also impressed in the opening two games of the WCBA season, posting 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 steals for Heilongjiang in their 73-69 win over Liaoning.

Brock Motum had 7 points as his Bologna team slumped to their second consecutive defeat in Italian Serie A competition, going down 87-80 to Umana VE. They currently sit in fifth on the table, with a 5-2 record.

13 points and 4 rebounds in 31 minutes from Brad Newley was not enough to see his Gran Canaria team slip to back-to-back defeats in Spanish ACB action. After going 5-0 to start the season, the Canary Island team has dropped their past two games and sit fourth in the standings.

Boomers sharp-shooter Ryan Broekhoff is on the road to recovery after a groin injury suffered last week ruled him out for four weeks. Daniel Kickert had 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop his Azovmash team from sliding to a 78-58 loss against Halychyna in Ukrainian Superleague action.

The unbeaten start to the college basketball season is over to Cameron Bairstow, Hugh Greenwood and the New Mexico Lobos, going down to the University of Massachusetts on Saturday 81-65 at the Charleston Classic in South Carolina.

Despite the loss, the Lobos bounced back in Monday’s consolation game, crushing Davidson 79-58, with Bairstow posting 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while Greenwood had 9 points and 10 rebounds.

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Mountain West Conference rivals Boise State remain unbeaten following a 100-80 victory over New Orleans in Louisiana. Anthony Drmic was again the star for the Broncos, dropping a game-high 24 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 steals in the 20-point win. Igor Hadziomerovic stuffed the stats sheet with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Despite 15 points and 11 rebounds from Majok Majok, the Ball State Cardinals could not get the win against Butler University, going down 59-58 on Sunday.
Venky Jois carried Eastern Washington to the final of the 2K Sports Classic in California, producing to big performances on their way to a loss in the final to UC Irvine 81-58.

Jois opened against Boston University with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in the 80-68 win on Saturday, before 17 points (7-of-8 FG) and 5 rebounds in the 102-70 victory over LIU Brooklyn.

Opals guard Erin Phillips has been waived by her Polish club Wisla Krakow just two months into the new season. The sharp-shooting guard had played an impressive role in the club’s unbeaten stark to the BLK season, but departs Europe after just over three seasons with the top-ranked Polish club.

Phillips said on Twitter she will return to her base in Dallas, Texas for a few weeks rest before assessing her options for the remainder of the season before the WNBA season commences in April-May.

The 28-year-old is coming off another solid season in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever after playing a major role in helping the team win the 2012 WNBA Championship. Phillips last played in the WNBL in 2008 for the Adelaide Lightning.

Cayla Francis had 17 points and 4 rebounds off the bench to help Nantes to their second consecutive win of the French LFB season, defeating Nice 75-68. Fellow Opal Marianna Tolo had 6 points and 4 rebounds as Bourges Basket remain unbeaten after nine rounds.

Vanessa Panousis had 14 points and 5 assists as Virginia Tech defeated Hofstra 77-72 on Sunday in women’s college basketball action. Fellow Australian Hannah Young had 4 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

Three Australians started for Fresno State in their 92-79 loss to Washington State, with Alex Sheedy, Jacinta Vandenberg and Bree Farley all playing big minutes. Farley had 18 points and 4 rebounds in the loss, while Sheedy had (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Vandenberg finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Kate Gaze was the start, posting 21 points and 8 rebounds for Saint Mary’s in their 77-69 home win over Cal Poly on Sunday.

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For all the latest news on the Australian stars playing abroad be sure to visit the BA website at www.basketball.net.au.