2014 FIBA Oceania U19 Championships

[carlo]

2014 FIBA Oceania U19 Men's and Women's Championships will take place in Suva (Fiji) on Dec 1-6.

Both tournaments will qualify the winner to the final spot at the 2015 U19 WCs.

10 nations for each tournament are expected to participate.

Australia teams are heavily favored to win both tournaments, with New Zealand the best credited opponent.

Participants field, pools composition and full schedule here.

[carlo]

Australia men's team (10-man roster):

George Blagojevic
Kyle Clark
Harry Froling
Isaac Humphries
Tanner Krebs
Jack McVeigh
Rhys Vague
Dejan Vasiljevic
Jack White
Tom Wilson

Six players come from the U17 WC silver team (All-Tournament Humphries and Vasiljevic, Clark, Froling, White and Wilson).
Krebs and McVeigh are credited among the best of non-U17 members.

[carlo]

As expected, Australia and New Zealand had lopsided wins in D1, all scoring 100+ pts.

From live stats/scores Australia men's team roster doesn't include neither Humphries nor McVeigh, despite how reported by Basketball Australia site. Their replacements are forwards Jordan Hunter and Abiola Akintola (U17 NT, dnp today), who were not even announced in the reserves list !

[carlo]

Australia won the double-header finals with New Zealand and qualified for 2015 U19 WC.

While Australian girls never had real troubles and won the final 98-65, boys' Australian team got a really big scare from the Tall Blacks, who were able to tie the game with few seconds remaining. Finally it was Dejan Vasiljevic who hit a three almost at the buzzer to earn victory and qualification for Australia, 84-81.

NZL men's team played a fine tournament and a great final, but Australia risked a lot, sending almost a B-team to the Oceania qualifier. This having in mind the absence, for various reasons, of such standouts like Ben Simmons, Thon Maker, Isaac Humphries, Jonah Bolden and Jack McVeigh. If Australia is able to put together this incredible bunch of talents for the U19 WC, will imo be #1 favorite for the gold.