Isaac
Years ago
FIBA Oceania Championship: Opals announced
Basketball Australia is pleased to announce the twelve athletes selected to represent Australia at the 2007 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship in Dunedin later this month.
Reigning World Champions Australia have already qualified for Beijing, so the remaining teams in Dunedin are competing for the Oceania Zone berth with the third team filling a spot at a second-chance repechage tournament next July.
The Championship will be a three way contest between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, who won the South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa last week.
The tournament begins on September 26 and concludes on September 29 with all games played at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.
"This team should get us the results we need while a number of players will be challenged by the international competition," Australian Defence Force Opals head coach Jan Stirling said.
"We have provided a good number of athletes with the opportunity to demonstrate how they can adjust to the international game and we expect New Zealand will be very tough on their home soil."
All 12 players are contracted to teams in the Australian Defence Force Women's National Basketball League.
The 2007 Australian Defence Force Opals team for the FIBA Oceania Championship:
Samantha RICHARDS Guard Perth Lynx
Alicia POTO Guard Sydney Uni Flames
Kathleen MACLEOD Guard Bendigo Spirit
Renae CAMINO Guard Adelaide Lightning
Abby BISHOP Forward Canberra Capitals
Marianna TOLO Centre Australian Institute of Sport
Michelle BROGAN Forward Dandenong Rangers
Carly WILSON Guard/F Perth Lynx
Emma RANDALL Forward/C Bulleen Boomers
Emily McINERNY Forward Dandenong Rangers
Natalie PORTER Forward/C Sydney Uni Flames
Rohanee COX Forward Townsville Fire
Touring staff:
Jan STIRLING Head Coach
Gary FOX Assistant Coach
Jennifer BLACK Physiotherapist
Scott BURNE Doctor
Diana GLAZER Massage Therapist
Luke GALLAGHER Technician
Marian STEWART Team Manager
Tournament schedule:
Sep 26 AUS v NZ Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 27 AUS v FIJI Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 28 NZ v FIJI Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Sep 29 Final (1 v 2) Edgar Centre, Dunedin