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Brad&Boti: Opals, Sami, Ken, the Kings and 36ers
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THE Opals have stamped their imprimatur at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers will battle it out for the NBL's 2026 championship and Brad Rosen and I also talk about the death of basketball icon Ken Cole in this week's Brad&Boti podcast.
Play it again Sami as Opals go 5-0
FORMER Adelaide Lightning WNBL import Kayla Alexander turned in a blinder for Canada at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying series in Turkey, but it still wasn't quite enough to stall the rampaging Opals, players such as Chloe Bibby relishing extended minutes in the absence of two starters.
Aussies escape Turkish inferno to go 4-0
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BUOYED by the rousing support of its home crowd and playing arguably its best game of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Turkey pushed Australia to the limit before Sami Whitcomb, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot, Alex Wilson and a cameo by Cayla George steered the Opals to a thrilling 77-74 win.
Opals secure winning hat-trick at Qualifiers
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A CRUDE unsportsmanlike foul by Hungary's Petra Toman against Opals forward Alanna Smith acted as the catalyst to send Australia rolling away to a comfortable 71-58 victory in Turkey at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying tournament, the USF spurring a match-winning run that broke open the contest.
Vale Ken Cole, unique in so many ways
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"BEWARE the Ides of March" - the classic warning to wannabe emperor Julius Caesar but, as it turns out, a March 15 omen equally appropriate for basketball's undisputed "king" Ken Cole who died peacefully this morning, surrounded by family. The sport's most colourful and controversial figure prepared us for this moment for years.
Opals go to 2-0 at FIBA qualifiers
JAPAN gave Australia a major hiccup at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Turkey, the Opals' 10-point winning margin deceptive but also reflective of the team's greater depth, a late 3-point barrage and solid bench contribution from Zitina Aokuso raising the green 'n' gold flag for the second time in two outings.
Brad&Boti: Opals to feast in Turkey, NBL down to 4
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THE NBL is on the threshold of its 2026 best-of-three semi finals, giving Brad&Boti podcast colleague Brad Rosen and I plenty to discuss, but before we even do, over in Turkey our Australian Opals are in action against Argentina, Japan, Hungary, Turkey and Canada.
Opals now out of the Woods in Turkey
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THERE is no shortage of players unlucky to be omitted from Sandy Brondello's Australia Opals team competing in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Turkey from Wednesday but perhaps none moreso than Courtney Woods. Hot off leading Townsville to the WNBL championship, Woods claimed the Rachael Sporn Medal en route!
Elijah peppers in qualifiers, now for NBL
BOOMERS form in FIBA World Cup qualifiers shown by Perth's Elijah Pepper and Melbourne pair Tanner Krebs and Tom Wilson would have NBL fans excited on the eve of the playoffs, Pepper averaging 25.5ppg in road wins over Guam and the Philippines - including five threes in both outings.
Philippines push NZ, now for the Boomers
WITH a fairly impressive Tall Blacks line-up only squeezing past the Philippines 69-66 in Manila last night, the stage is set for a torrid time on Sunday for the Boomers, who only took the second quarter to KO Guam in their FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier in Mangilao Village, Tanner Krebs the match star.
