The Australian Boomers’ FIBA basketball World Cup hopes have received a major boost after being drawn in a favourable pool group.
The Boomers will go in as favourites in Group E alongside Germany, Finland and host nation Japan.
All three pool games will be played in Okinawa, Japan.
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Australia also received an advantageous path to the second group phase, should they finish in the top-two.
The Boomers are locked in to face the top two finishers of Group F (Slovenia, Georgia, Venezuela, Cape Verde).
This means Australia could face Luka Doncic’s Slovenia in a quarter-final, which would be a replay of the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics.
However, Slovenia are strong favourites to win Group F and would therefore avoid the Boomers in the second round.
The quarter-final games will also be in Okinawa, Japan.
A decent draw comes as the Boomers will name a formidable team for the World Cup from August 25 to September 10.
The likes of Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Jock Landale, Josh Green and Joe Ingles all look set to play.
Meanwhile, trans-tasman rivals New Zealand received a horror draw in Group C alongside the USA and Greece.
The top two teams in each pool will advance to the second round.
Australian Boomers FIBA basketball World Cup draw
Group E: Okinawa Arena, Japan
1: Germany
2: Finland
3: Australia
4: Japan