Boomerangs Return to Italy for World Championships

Bronze medal playoff in Loano in 2011 v Portugal

The Australian Men’s Basketball team for players with an intellectual disability (Boomerangs) will return to Loano Italy for the 2017 INAS Basketball World Championships in November.

The Boomerangs last played in Loano in 2011, where they finished fourth losing the Bronze medal playoff to Portugal 46-79.  This year they will return with a completely new team.  Led by the 2013 INAS World Championship Bronze medallists: Jarrod Thomson (VIC), Joshua Cleary (TAS), Bradley Kinross (SA) and Wayne Kinross (SA) the Boomerangs will be looking to improve on their last result in Loano.

The team has had a great preparation with a tour to Japan, the Ivor Burge Championships in Bendigo and the 2017 Queens Birthday Long Weekend Tournament in Melbourne along with several training camps.  “This time together has been invaluable for the team, both in allowing players to gel as a team and for the coaches to appreciate the players strengths and combinations.” said Simon Robinson Boomerangs Head Coach.

Other players to make their way into the team include: 2015 Global Games representatives Frazer Dawber (VIC), Justin Koenig (ACT) and Jake De La Motte (VIC) along with team debutants James Myers (VIC), Dylan Pace (TAS), and Jack Littleton (ACT).

De La Motte stood out at the Ivor Burge Championships in Bendigo, while debutantes Myers and Pace impressed with outstanding performances at the 2017 Queens Birthday tournament and the 2016 tour of Japan.  ACT’s Littleton’s size and strength will come in handy against the larger European teams.

“There is a good blend of experience and youth in the team and after just missing out on a medal in Ecuador they will be keen to go one better this tournament” Simon Robinson

While the Boomerangs are currently ranked 6th in the World they have never been far from the medals having reached the medal round in half of the Championship tournaments since 1992, winning Bronze in Portugal in 1996 and Turkey in 2013.

Team      

Frazer Dawber       (VIC)

Jake De La Motte   (VIC)

James Myers           (VIC)

Jarrod Thomson     (VIC)

Brad Kinross            (SA)

Wayne Kinross       (SA)

Dylan Pace               (Tas)

Joshua Cleary          (Tas)

Justin Koenig           (ACT)

Jack Littleton           (ACT)

Staff

Head Coach:           Simon Robinson (VIC)

Assistant Coach:    George Havakis (VIC)

Tech Asst Coach:   Justin May (VIC)

Medical:                   David Taylor (VIC)

Manager:                 Trish Currie (VIC)

 

Contacts

Simon Robinson: Boomerangs Head Coach 0416 293 021

Robyn Smith: CEO Sport Inclusion Australia, 0418 979 459

Jan Stirling: General Manager, High Performance and Teams Basketball Australia – 03 9847 2302

 

Boomerangs Championship Results

Year Event Location Placing
1992 Paralympics Spain / Madrid 8th
1994 Inas World Champs Greece / Athens 5th
1996 Inas World Champs Portugal 3rd
1998 Inas World Champs Brazil / Sao Paulo 5th
2000 Paralympics Australia / Sydney 6th
2002 Inas World Champs Portugal / Madeira 4th
2004 Global Games Sweden / Bolnas 5th
2006 Inas World Champs Japan / Yokohama 4th
2009 Global Games Czech Republic / Liberec 5th
2011 Global Games Italy / Loano 4th
2013 Inas World Champs Turkey / Ankara 3rd
2015 Global Games Ecuador / Guyaquil 4th