FYI. I realise you (forum posters here generally) are all pent up about this but if the owners were contributing 100k per year to BA, then it appropriately matches the contribution the states make as well, stretching down through the whole structure of Australian Basketball. They wanted a vote and a say in how BA was run, and they paid an appropriate fee for that say, as does every other stakeholder in BA. That's how sport basically works in this country, if you want a say, you pay. That happens at state level as well, and at local....
Having said this, the Boomers program is largely paid for from ASC funding. BA redistribute that funding each year depending on the focus in that year. This year there will be an appropriate allocation for the U19 teams, competing at worlds. The Boomers and Opals will have a smaller allocation this year, reflecting the smaller program they have. Next year, that money will be heavily oriented towards them again. Generally the ASC will not let you hold too much over from year to year, so you can't necessarily "save it" too much from year to year.
And finally, the Oceania series is probably being treated how it should be, given two teams from Oceania are going to Spain, and this tournament only decides ranking. There are six teams in preliminary pools, which is the same as the Olynpics, except that there are four pools in Spain and two at the OG. Top four qualify. If we cannot make top sixteen, regardless of seeding, then we are in deep trouble anyway. Even a higher ranking does not mean you end up in a better pool, because its not as though oceania gets four teams and therefore guaranteed to have its best team in the weakest pool - just does not work that way.
As Paul said, the quid pro quo should be a better lead in next year, and that is likely to happen.
