Maher back at point for Boomers tour of NZ

Basketball Australia today announced the Australian men's basketball team to play the Tall Blacks in a three-game series in New Zealand this weekend.

Adelaide 36ers guard Brett Maher has been recalled to the team after receiving a full medical clearance to play. Maher had been struggling with a back injury throughout the Boomers preparation but is now fully recovered and training hard to reclaim his on-court fitness.

"The Italian tour demonstrated that we were a guard short, so I'm looking forward to seeing the progression of Brett Maher during the three games in New Zealand," Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian said.

Also included in the 12-player team heading to New Zealand are three-time Olympian and Boomers captain Shane Heal and Sydney Olympians Paul Rogers, Jason Smith and Martin Cattalini. 19-year-old Andrew Bogut will play his sixth game for the Boomers on Friday night and has already shown he is up to the task in the senior ranks with a great showing in his first Boomers tour last month.

"We learned a lot from the tour to Italy. As a group we are getting closer and tighter as we approach the games in Athens," Goorjian said.

The team returned from a five-game tour of Italy last week and have been recovering and training ahead of the tour to New Zealand which starts on Friday night in Hamilton.

On Saturday the teams move on to play in Christchurch before their final game in Invercargill on Sunday. Games will be shown on FOX Sports (check local guides for times).

Australia, currently ranked seventh in the world by FIBA, swept the Tall Blacks 3 - 0 last time they met in the FIBA Oceania Olympic qualification tournament in August 2003.

Game reports will be available throughout the tour on the Basketball Australia website - www.basketball.net.au.

The Australian Olympic Committee will announce the team for Athens on Tuesday, July 13. The Boomers will join the 'Price Attack' Opals at a dinner in Box Hill in Melbourne's eastern suburbs where they will be officially farewelled by fans and officials.

The Boomers depart Australia for Athens on July 29.

Boomers New Zealand Tour Team
David Andersen (Montepaschi Siena, Italy)
Andrew Bogut (University of Utah, US)
CJ Bruton (Sydney Kings)
Martin Cattalini (formally Adelaide 36ers)
Shane Heal (C) (Kasani, Greece)
Brett Maher (Adelaide 36ers)
Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
John Rillie (Townsville Crocs)
Paul Rogers (Girona, Spain)
Tony Ronaldson (Perth Wildcats)
Glen Saville (Wollongong Hawks)
Jason Smith (Sydney Kings)

BOOMERS 2004 NEW ZEALAND TOUR

THURSDAY JULY 8 - Hamilton
* Training 7.30pm - 9.30pm (5.30 - 7.30pm AEST)

FRIDAY JULY 9 - Hamilton
* Boomers v New Zealand 7.30pm (5.30pm AEST)

SATURDAY JULY 10 - Christchurch
* Boomers v New Zealand 7.30pm (5.30pm AEST)

SUNDAY JULY 11 - Invercargill
* Boomers v New Zealand 3.00pm (1.00pm AEST)
* Arrive Melbourne 5.50pm


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The 'Price Attack' Opals, the Boomers, Rollers and Gliders are deep into their preparations for Athens.

The 'Price Attack' Opals tour China from June 30 - July 7. They will play the Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro and the host nation.

The Boomers are off to Italy for a ten day tour from June 20 - 30. They will then head to NZ from the July 8 - 12.

The Rollers and Gliders are both heading to the US for tournaments and training camps ahead of their Athens bids in September.

Keep up with all our national teams as they wear the green and gold around the world. Visit Basketball Australia's website for all the latest news - www.basketball.net.au