Boomers notch lopsided win over Venezuela, kickstart FIBA World Cup preparations

The Australia Boomers came away with a comprehensive 97-41 win over Venezuela in their opening 2023 FIBA World Cup warmup clash at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena behind Duop Reath’s game-high 26 points.

Reath was phenomenal for head coach Brian Goorjian as he stakes his claim for a spot on the side’s 12-man World Cup roster finishing with 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting.

Josh Giddey also impressed putting up 14 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists whilst Joe Ingles added 12 points on 3-of-6 from three off the bench.

The ever-reliable Nick Kay had seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals whilst skipper Patty Mills had a tough night shooting finishing with just eight points on 3-of-9 from the field and 1-of-6 from three.

The Boomers managed to hold Venezuela to a combined 11 points across the second and third quarters in a dominant defensive display.

Jock Landale and Josh Green both sat out as they manage injury niggles but are expected to be available prior to the side’s World Cup opener against Finland on 25 August.

With warmup clashes against Brazil and South Sudan still to come later this week, Goorjian will have to cut one more player to trim the roster down to the required dozen.

Veteran Chris Goulding was unable to finish the contest after a collision left him clutching at the knee and may be the player to miss out should it impact his availability at all.

Australia’s World Cup campaign kicks off against a Finnish squad headlined by Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen at Okinawa Arena in Japan on Friday 25 August before facing a tough German side on the Sunday and hosts Japan on the Tuesday.

Ranked 17th in the world, Venezuela were sluggish for extended periods of the encounter hitting on just 15 of their 58 field goal attempts and committing 24 turnovers.

Garly Sojo was the only Venezuelan player to finish in double digits with 12.

Their World Cup tips off against Luka Dončić’s Slovenia the day after the Boomers’ opener before they meet Cape Verde and Georgia.

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