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CHRIS Goulding today delivered a 3-point shooting bonanza for the ages, nailing a career-best 10 as Australia ultimately swamped South Korea 98-75 to qualify for next year's FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia. Goulding turned away Korea's comeback as he swished 10-of-16 threes, plus a bonus free throw in his 31-point extravaganza.

In Thursday's 101-48 rout of Thailand, Goulding set the Cup Qualifiers record for threes when he comfortably stroked 9-of-14 for a game-high 27 points. He did that in 19 minutes.

While some would say it was against a defensive unit that needed tips from John Rillie on how to guard the perimeter, today's explosion just took his shooting up a level.

In a word, he was elite. In another, simply sensational. OK, that was two words. He only required two more shots from beyond the arc to eclipse the record of 11 set by Bahrain's Ahmed Haji in its 76-71 win over Syria on Friday.

But the Boomers most likely were unaware of his proximity to again resetting the record when he was subbed out with 2:19 left to play. It didn't matter.

Goulding was in a world of his own, going scoreless in the opening period, then swishing three 3-pointers and a bonus free throw in a 10-point second period.

From 19-19 at the first break, Australia outscored Korea 35-10 in the second before Woosook Lee snuck in a triple 19 seconds before halftime.

Tightening the defensive screws and moving the ball slickly, Australia seized complete control. One fast break which concluded with Kyle Bowen laying it up off a Dejan Vasiljevic pass was copybook basketball (you should have seen that Bowen man go).

Ahead 54-32, the Boomers took the foot off the pedal during the third and a sudden obsession with the 3-point line - they ultimately stroked just 16-of-41 from beyond the arc in their 75 field goal attempts - opened the door for the home team.

Supported by a large and loud crowd and with Illawarra star Hyunjung Lee in everything, Korea sliced the deficit back to 11 before Goulding produced a further shooting clinic to evoke memories of Boomers' Olympic Games leading scorers such as Eddie Palubinskas, Ian Davies, Andrew Gaze and Patty Mills.

He was in that class as Australia confirmed another Asia Cup title defence next year.

AUSTRALIA 101 (Goulding 27, Vasiljevic 14, Henshall 12, Zikarsky 11; Henshall 7 rebs; Henshall 8 assts) d THAILAND 48 (Lish 11; Breunig 8 rebs; Lish 4 assts). AUSTRALIA 98 (Goulding 31, Henshall 16, Kay 13; Kay 12 rebs; Norton 6 assts) d SOUTH KOREA 75 (W Lee 17, H Lee 14, Byeon 10; H Lee 9 rebs; H Lee 5 assts).

WHILE Ben Henshall also showed off his bona fides, the question remains why did FIBA require Australia to play Asia Cup qualifiers in the first place?

The reality is the Boomers are the Asia Cup holders. They were the highest-placed finisher from Asia and Oceania at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Surely that should warrant a pass and immediate entry into the next Asia Cup tournament.

Yes, we understand FIBA's intent to showcase national teams playing home (and away) games outside the major tournaments but aside from the disruption to the NBL schedule, it seems little of meaningful note is accomplished when most of the build-up results are a fait accompli.

Thank Naismith that Goulding gave us something to revel in, proving - as did Brad Newley after he was omitted from our Rio Olympic Games team - some of our veteran warriors still have a lot to offer.

(Pics courtesy of fiba.com)