Boomers spots up for grabs
Perth Wildcats championship winners Damian Martin and Matt Knight will be given the chance to push their cases for inclusion in the Boomers' FIBA Basketball World Cup squad when international action returns to Perth next month.
The Boomers will host China in the first two encounters of the four-match Sino-Australia Challenge series, at Challenge Stadium on May 29 and 31.
Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis will select an experimental squad for the China series with an eye towards the World Cup in Spain starting in late August.
Wildcats captain Martin and star centre Knight will be given opportunities to impress on the international stage, along with Melbourne Tigers sharpshooter Chris Goulding, fresh off his best NBL season.
"Everyone's smart enough to understand that there are guys that you would call core members of the group, then there are spots that are available," Lemanis said.
"The other things you need to know are injuries and player availability.
"With that in mind, I think both Martin and Knight have a good opportunity. They've just got to come in, do what they do and put the pressure on us as a coaching staff to say, 'yep, they fit'."
Following the China series, Lemanis will pick a 16-man squad in July, from which he will select a final group of 12 for the World Cup.
"Some tough decisions will have to be made for that particular selection process, so this series against China is our opportunity to have a look at players and for some of those players to stake their case," Lemanis said.
The Boomers will spend a fortnight in Perth either side of the two local games of the China series, with the camp starting on May 23 at the WA Basketball Centre.
The games in China will be played on June 6 and 8.
The extended stay in Perth will give Lemanis plenty of time to assess the players at his disposal.
"It's always a great environment there with fantastic facilities," Lemanis said.
"You guys understand basketball, everything's set up, it's all good to go and plenty of people are around to help."
