The Boomers’ dream of FIBA World Cup glory remains alive after Australia comprehensively beat co-hosts Japan on Tuesday night to progress to the next round.
But there’s still a long, hard ahead in the quest for a historic medal with Brian Goorjian’s team thrust into another tough group, where a unique tournament format means they’ll have be at considerable disadvantage against a team that’s already beaten them in this tournament.
Tuesday night’s victory secured Australia’s progression to the second round as the second placed team in Group E. Unbeaten Germany topped the group after an upset win over the Boomers on Sunday.
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Giddey bags double-double against Japan | 00:36
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
The unique FIBA format for the tournament features two group stages, with the Boomers booking one of four spots in Group K.
Notably, results from the first round carry over and the top two teams of each first round group are placed in the same group in the second stage, but do not play each other again. That’s significant because of tiebreak rules (see explanation below) that means Germany would progress ahead of Australia if they finish equal on points. It means, in all likelihood, the Boomers are going to have to win both of their matches in the second round to progress to the knockout stage.
The other two teams in Group J will come from Group F and are yet to be confirmed, although Slovenia — led by NBA superstar Luka Doncic — is in pole position to top the group with Georgia, Cape Verde and Venezuela fighting it out for the other spot.
Should Slovenia finish top of the Group after Wednesday night’s matches they will be the Boomers’ next opponents, on Friday night, in a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal playoff.
The tournament follows a standard knockout format of quarter-finals, semi-final and final beyond that. Should the Boomers get through they would face an opponent out of Group L — currently featuring defending champions Spain, Canada, Latvia and a to-be-determined team — in the last eight. The semi-finals would be the earliest possible stage Australia could run into tournament favourites USA.
Australia has never won a medal at the world championships — losing the third place game to France in 2019 — but have set high expectations after securing a first Olympic medal in Tokyo two years ago.
BOOMERS RESULTS SO FAR
Australia def. Finland 98-72
Australia lost to Germany 85-82
Australia def Japan 109-89
FINISHING ORDER AND QUALIFIERS FROM EVERY FIBA WORLD CUP GROUP
Group A: Dominican Republic, Italy, Angola, Philippines
Group B: Serbia, Puerto Rico, South Sudan, China (one round of games remaining)
Group C: USA (guaranteed to advance), Greece, New Zealand, Jordan (eliminated) (one round of games remaining)
Group D:Lithuania, Montenegro, Egypt, Mexico,
Group E: Germany, Australia, Japan, Finland
Group F: Slovenia, Georgia, Cape Verde, Venezuela (one round of games remaining)
Group G: Spain (guaranteed to advance), Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, Iran (eliminated) (one round of games remaining)
Group H: Canada, Latvia, France, Lebanon
SECOND ROUND GROUPS AND FORMAT
GROUP I: Dominican Republic, Group B winner, Italy, Group B 2nd place finisher
GROUP J: USA, Lithuania, Group C 2nd place finisher, Montenegro
GROUP K: Germany, Group F winner, Australia, Group F 2nd place finisher
GROUP L: Spain, Canada, Group G 2nd place finisher, Latvia
The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals. If teams finish on equal on points tiebreaks will be determined by the head-to-head record between teams (at any point in the tournament), points difference between tied teams, then overall points difference
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Team USA ease past Giannis-less Greece | 01:05
KNOCKOUT STAGE FORMAT AND DATES
QUARTER FINALS (September 5-6)
QF1: Winner of Group I vs 2nd place Group J
QF2: Winner of Group J vs 2nd place Group I
QF3: Winner of Group K vs 2nd place Group L
QF4: Winner of Group L vs 2nd place Group K
SEMI-FINALS (September 8)
SF1: Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF3
SF2: Winner of QF2 vs Winner of QF4
FINAL & THIRD PLACE GAME (September 10)
Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2
Loser of SF1 vs Loser of SF2