Boomers ready for Spanish test
The Australian Boomers begin the final leg of their preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games against two-time reigning European Champions Spain in Granada, Spain in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Coach Brett Brown was happy with training ahead of Game 1 against Spain.
In what is sure to be the toughest test of the Boomers road to London thus far, they face a Spanish side sporting the likes of NBA stars Pau Gasol (LA Lakers), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies) and Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder).
A raucous capacity crowd of 10,000 is expected turn out for the game, with the fanatical Spanish fans sure to create a hostile environment for the Boomers.
Despite what has been an arduous journey from Brisbane to Granada, Australian head coach Brett Brown was pleased with the effort and intensity of his players in their sole training session before Game 1 against Spain.
“After a 38 hour cumulative travel itinerary and to try and get a sleep last night and then to come in a deliver a very high standard practice was great effort, but it didn’t surprise me,” Brown said.
“The group has really responded to everything we have put to them; they’ve bought it and our first training session here in Spain was excellent.”
Brown worked the Boomers for two hours in hot and stuffy conditions inside the Granada Stadium, with the heat expected to intensify once 10,000 screaming fans pack out the stands.
Playing in front of bumper crowds in Granada is nothing new for the likes of Boomers duo Joe Ingles and Aleks Maric, with the pair calling the picturesque region home in recent years.
Ingles had a brief, but successful, stint with Granada in 2010 before signing with Regal FC Barcelona, while Maric played his first season as a professional with the club in 2008.
The Boomers take on Spain in Granada with tip-off at 4:40am AEST.
Get all the latest news, results and insights into the Boomers road to London at the BA website (www.basketball.net.au) and don’t forget to like the Boomers on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
