Bogut joins Boomers for Aussie-based Test series

In an exciting coup for Australian basketball, NBA star, Andrew Bogut has confirmed that he will play for the Boomers in two Test matches in Hobart and Melbourne in July.

The Boomers will take on the New Zealand Tall Blacks in two matches of the Resi Mortgage Test Series on July 17 (Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart) and July 19 (Vodafone Arena, Melbourne).

The Australian matches form part of the four-match series which starts in Napier, New Zealand on July 12 and 14. The teams will be playing for the prestigious Ramsay Shield.

Bogut has just returned from the United States where he helped his Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs in his Rookie Year but took some time out to help launch the tournament at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne.

“It’s great to be back home in Melbourne,” the 213cm giant said. “I’m looking forward to some rest and then getting back on the court with the Boomers.”

The Test Series sees the relationship formed with Resi Mortgage for the 2005 Boomers Four Nations Tournament continue.

“We are thrilled that Resi Mortgage Corporation have joined with the Boomers again as the presenting sponsor of the Test Series,” Basketball Australia General Manager of National Teams and Competitions, Lorraine Landon said.

“As one of Australia’s most awarded home loan companies, Resi knows what it is like to be a winner and we will mix their success with the success of the Boomers.”

“Resi Mortgage Corporation is delighted to be a part of this exciting Test Series against our arch rivals New Zealand,” Resi Mortgage Managing Director, Peter James said.

“Our Australian team has had tremendous success already this year, winning a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, and we know that New Zealand are going to come out fighting to try to defeat us this time around.”

Hobart’s leg of the tournament was also launched today. Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt, doing the honours at Parliament House in Hobart.

“The match will give Tasmania incredible exposure in Australia and New Zealand and reinforce our reputation as a first-class event destination,” Minister Wriedt said.

“The State Government through Events Tasmania is pleased to join that partnership to secure and ensure the event is a success for Tasmania.”

“We thank our government partners – the Tasmanian State Government through Events Tasmania and the Australian Sports Commission,” Landon said.

“The assistance of these partners ensures we can bring top quality international basketball to Australia.”

Bogut, who has not played with the team since he burst onto the scene as a teenager at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has made it clear to all that despite his multi-million dollar contract with the American NBA, his loyalties lie with Australia and the Boomers.

“I love playing for Australia and we always have great battles against New Zealand,” he said.

“This Test Series is going to be a great lead up to the World Championships.”

The FIBA World Championships for Men will be played in Japan from August 19 to September 3. The Boomers (currently ranked ninth by FIBA) have drawn a tough Group and will require their stars to be well-drilled and ready to play together after most have spent the past two years since the Olympics plying their trade all over the world.

Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian is looking forward to having the core of his team together for the Test Series in Hobart and Melbourne.

“To have Andrew (Bogut) here in Australia for a pre-World Championships tournament might sound exciting to basketball fans and the media, but believe me, to have what I hope will be almost our whole group at full strength together, on home soil, one month out from the Worlds makes me a very happy coach,” Goorjian said.

Both Bogut and Goorjian were present for the tournament’s launch at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne on Tuesday morning and Goorjian then travelled to Hobart to help Minister Wriedt launch the tournament in Hobart.

The final 12-man team for the Test Series will be selected at the training camp in Gosford on July 9. The 35-man squad heads into its first training camp in Canberra from June 21 to 25.

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow (Wednesday, May 24) from Ticketmaster (Hobart) and Ticketek (Melbourne) and start from only $26 for adults and $10 for children.