This year’s Sino-Australia Challenge takes on added importance, with the Boomers to compete at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain tipping off in late August.

International basketball returns to Challenge Stadium for the opening two games of the four-game series, tipping off on Thursday 29 May.

The Australian leg of the series will be completed om Saturday 31 May before heading to China for the final two games on Friday 6 June and Sunday 8 June.

Australian Boomers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis said the Sino-Australia Challenge is an exciting time for the program leading into the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“The Sino-Australia Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for us to start the international campaign for 2014,” Lemanis said.

“It allows players we have previously seen in the Boomers environment to show how much they have progressed over the past 12 months or for the new guys to show what they have to offer.

“With only 16 positions available for the World Cup selection camp in July, some tough decisions are going to have to be made – this series can help to provide some clarity moving forward.”

The Sino-Australia Challenge has become the launching pad for several Boomers players to emerge as regulars in the program.

University of New Mexico college star Cameron Bairstow and Adelaide 36ers forward Anthony Petrie enjoyed a successful 2013 series, forcing their way into the Boomers team for the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships.

This is the second year of the Sino-Australia Challenge following a four-year agreement reached between Basketball Australia and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with funding support from the Western Australian Government.

Tickets for the Sino-Australia Challenge go on sale to the public today at 12:00pm (WA time) through Ticketmaster.

2014 Sino-Australia Challenge – Australian Boomers v Team China

Game One
Thursday 29 May @ Challenge Stadium 8:30pm (local time)
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au, call 136 100 and Ticketmaster outlets

Game Two
Saturday 31 May @ Challenge Stadium 6:30pm
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au, call 136 100 and Ticketmaster outlets

Game Three
Friday 6 June @ TBC

Game Four
Sunday 8 June @ TBC