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Boomers Bring International Basketball to Traralgon for FIBA 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers on 20 - 23 February 2025

Australia's Boomers will play Indonesia and Thailand in Traralgon's first international basketball fixtures for the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers, boosting local tourism and celebrating Gippsland's rising basketball talent.

By news@gippsland - 17th December 2024 - Back to News

Basketball Australia alongside Visit Victoria, Latrobe City Council and TEG Sport are today announcing that Traralgon will host the Boomers for their final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers. Australia will play two games at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium with the Boomers facing Indonesia and Thailand on 20 - 23 February 2025.

The Boomers take on Indonesia (20 Feb) and Thailand (23 Feb) in Traralgon's historic first international fixtures at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium

Traralgon welcomes Boomers

The games will be the first Boomers international fixtures in the regional Victorian city of Traralgon, an area which continues to rise as a basketball hotspot for talent and participation. Cr Mayor Dale Harriman, Latrobe City Council said, "Latrobe City is excited to host the Boomers in Traralgon in 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring international level basketball to the region. We have a huge local number of local basketball fans that I know will be so excited to watch the qualifiers."

"Events such as this solidifies Latrobe City's standing as an events capital south east of Melbourne and provides a significant boost to our tourism economy with visitors expected to come from across the region and beyond to watch the games," Cr Harriman said.

Boomers games announced

Basketball Australia representatives, Matt Scriven - Chief Executive Officer, Jason Smith, Executive General Manager of High Performance and Boomers player Jack White joined Harriman in Traralgon this morning to announce the double-header. "We are excited for the first ever Boomers games in Traralgon and we thank the community and the City of Latrobe for embracing this double-header in February."

"There's a fantastic culture of basketball in the region and we appreciate our partners Visit Victoria, Latrobe City Council and TEG for making these FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers a reality," said Matt Scriven.

Traralgon hosts Boomers

Traralgon as a host city aligns with the connection of basketball in regional hubs following the sold-out February games in Bendigo against Korea. Taking an international standard tournament to Gippsland will be a boom for the basketball community and local industry. "We are thrilled to bring the Boomers to Traralgon for their final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers," said TEG Group Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Jones.

"Hosting these games in regional Victoria is a fantastic opportunity to showcase world-class Basketball, while giving local fans the chance to cheer on the Boomers. This is a celebration of sport, community, and the Boomers' incredible journey on the international stage," Mr Jones said.

Gippsland basketball stars

Gippsland continues to produce exceptional basketball talent including Olympic bronze medallist Jade Melbourne, Australian Opal representative Jaz Shelley, Melbourne United's Jack White and coach Dean Vickerman.

"My aspirations started as a kid playing junior basketball at St Michael's, so to be a part of the first Boomers games in Traralgon is a cool moment. It's been about ten years since I've played in my home town, so hopefully the stars align and I'm on the court for the double-header in February," said Jack White, Australian Boomers.

Excited double-header

Jason Smith, Executive General Manager of High Performance looks forward to taking a team of Australia's up and coming stars for the double-header. "We've had a really exciting group of players throughout the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and it's going to be an opportunity to come together and build chemistry in a home stint against two emerging basketball nations in Asia."

"This double-header is an exciting opportunity for our group and we hope to see a wave of green in gold on the streets of Traralgon in February," said Smith. General public on-sale for tickets will be live at 10am AEDT on Tuesday, 17 December via Ticketek website.

Pictures from Basketball Australia Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com