Is it time to try qualifying through South America, Asia is certainly no test.

You can get an Australian singlet in a weeties pack these days.

No slight on the individuals, but it's an embarrassment that some of those blokes are now able to officially call themselves Australian representatives.

If this is what these meaningless (and seemingly endless) qualifying games are going to toss up, then I'll pass.

I'm all for giving youth a chance in a tournament like this, but when some of these guys can’t even get NBL minutes????

Are these games on Kayo freebies? You'd hope so

I'm sure most people are questioning the selection criteria for the team. Only thing I can think of is let's choose a team for the players mums and Nan's so they can tell their friends their boys made an Australian team.
Gone to the thesaurus and I'm flummoxed by that team. Imagine the team that gets beaten by them. Did average players just said nah and that's the best they can get? Might be a decent nbl1 team but not much more.

It's not our fault though that Asia is appalling at basketball.

It kind of is. We gave up too quickly on the soon-to-be-mighty Singapore Slingers!

What is the point of these qualifiers ?

Are we putting up the Aussie 'D' team here...

Dads army with a few youngsters, nbl1 team was a good description. We should have to qualify through a tougher tournament, it's not helping setting the standards. Maybe play an under 21 selection group to see how they go if it’s got stay the same.

It's easy until we hit the top 4 in Asia.

So would it be better to be seeded to only start playing after the first or second rounds, or to play from the start to give developing players the chance to be tested and prove themselves?

Poor Rhys Vague couldn't even get a gig, would have to be the worst 'Boomers' team on paper I've seen.

I suppose another way to look at it is that it gives international experience to the minnows of Asia and gives their supporters the chance to see international competition at home games.

I certainly agree that there are players there that are bench warmers and towel wavers at best for their NBL teams. Seems crazy that they will be able to say they represent a senior Australian team.

Who are we playing?

Basketball Australia released the 12-man roster on Tuesday and are preparing in Melbourne this week for games against Indonesia on Thursday night and Thailand on Sunday in Gippsland

The Boomers have already qualified for the 2025 Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia and are currently top of Group A with a 4-0 record with the final two games to go in this window

I can understand some people complaining about the standard of some of the players on the roster. However, I'd temper those comments with this: it will only be of concern if we lose games.

If these guys are capable of pulling out a win, then great. It's a win-win. Australia gets to progress through these qualifiers and a bunch of guys who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity get to tell their grandkids about when they represented Australia.

The squad is a nice mix of super-young, early-career and grizzled vets. Everyone should get something out of it.

And who knows... some of the youngsters might amount to something down the track.

We are currently 4-0 with our closest competition 2-2 (Korea and Thailand). Wont be difficult to qualify from here

Sebastian, we already have qualified

Then the squad is irrelevant

Korea and Thailand play each other, meaning only one of them can reach 4 wins, not both, top 2 from each group go through so we're qualified already

Hence send the Under 18 Vic Metro team. I am surprised though that Perth released players.

Agreed, everyone tightens their rotation for playoffs but you'd still expect Okwera and Pepper to play a role

Pity college is still going, select a squad from there. Or an under 21 team, but would've been good to have a Delly or Patty to show what it means to play for the Boomers.
This squad is just irrelevant.

What certainly shouldn't be ignored, is the commitment shown by Nick Kay to turn up for this. Clearly he is sending a signal that he'll always try to be there for his country -- something we should value on the Boomers.

Agreed Purist

It feels like we are playing a game within a game. How far down the depth chart can we go before there is a better than average chance the opposition may win. I feel this Boomers iteration has hit that limit. I think there is a chance we could lose if either Thailand or Indonesia are motivated and have their A teams.
I dislike when we get too cute with either selection and/or playing style.

Is there any formal selection policy/reason why the likes of Armstrong, DJV, Toohey, Drmic, Humphries aren't playing? Or they just couldn't be arsed?

Is there any formal selection policy/reason why the likes of Armstrong, DJV, Toohey, Drmic, Humphries and even Cadee aren't playing? Or they just couldn't be arsed?