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No Superstars, No Problem For Aussie Spinners Taking On The World

No Superstars, No Problem For Aussie Spinners Taking On The World
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Head coach Brad Ness is imploring each member of the Australian Spinners squad to contribute to a cohesive team performance at what he expects will be the most hotly contested U23 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in recent memory.

Ness – a five-time Paralympian and gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Games – said the 12-player Australian team had prepared well for the tournament, which starts in Phuket, Thailand on Wednesday, including playing a series of warm-up matches which blew out some cobwebs.

The Spinners start their campaign on day one against a strong Israel outfit before facing Thailand, Germany, South Africa and the US. Since the tournament’s inception in 1997, Australia has won the bronze medal four times. It has been five years since the most recent edition of the tournament, which was won by Great Britain ahead of Turkey and third-placed Australia.

The Spinners side features Commonwealth Games 3×3 wheelchair basketball gold medallist Lachlin Dalton – but Ness made clear the Australians’ strength lay in teamwork.

“We don’t have superstars but we’ve got a very high level of players across the board and the biggest thing for us and what I’m expecting to see is one unit playing the game of basketball in a very controlled manner,” he said.

“We were designed to be able to put pressure on for 40 minutes, but also have a very structured offence that the boys can then leave when they feel ready to use their natural talent, which they’ve all got. I think we’ve found a balance in that, so I’m just looking forward to watching the guys play as a group.”

Ness said the danger sides in Group B were Israel and Germany, which each were well-drilled and had strong game plans, along with the US, which was typically tall and mobile.

“On the other side, I think Spain, Japan, and Turkey will all be a handful,” he said. “But you’ve got a smokey in that group in Brazil as well.

“I think everyone’s a threat really and it’s going to be one of those tournaments where you’re going to have to turn up every day and play well. This is probably going to be one of the closest Under 23 competitions in recent history.”

All games will be streamed on the IWBF YouTube Channel.

Australia’s matches:
v Israel U23 – 7/9
v Thailand U23 – 9/9
v South Africa U23 – 10/9
v Germany U23 – 12/9
v USA U23 – 13/9

By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 6 September 2022