Melbourne United and ex-AFL player Craig Moller has been named in the NBL All-Australian team to tour China next month.
Moller was selected in the 12-man squad which also includes seven members of the Boomers’ gold medal winning team from the recent Commonwealth Games.
Boomers’ and Brisbane Bullets’ Coach Andrej Lemanis will coach the team that will play three games against the Chinese national team starting in Jiyuan on June 8.
This will be followed by games in Hengyang on June 10 and Beijing on June 12. Chief Executive Jeremy Loeliger said it would be the third series between China and the NBL All-Australian team in the past three years.
“The last two series were a great success. We are always warmly welcomed by the passionate Chinese basketball fans,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity to build on the exposure of the NBL in one of the biggest markets in the world with all three games to be broadcast live to a huge audience in China on its national free to air sports channel CCTV5.
“We are also pleased the games will be broadcast back to Australia on FOX SPORTS. This is an exciting time for Australian basketball as the Boomers head into next year’s games against Team USA at Etihad Stadium, the 2019 World Cup back in China and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”
Lemanis said it was a great opportunity for some of Australia’s best players to play international basketball ahead of the Boomers’ next World Cup qualifiers in Asia in June.
“The tour also enables us to expose a few new players to international competition such as Craig Moller. I’m excited to see how he performs after a breakout NBL season and I’m happy he’s getting an opportunity to taste international basketball,” he said.
“History has proven that players playing in quality international games improve their individual games and this will not only help those who get selected for the June qualifying window but all players for the upcoming NBL season.”
The Australian squad for the tour is: Angus Brandt – Perth Wildcats Cam Gliddon – Brisbane Bullets Adam Gibson – Brisbane Bullets Chris Goulding – Melbourne United Craig Moller – Melbourne United Jason Cadee – Brisbane Bullets Tom Jervis – Perth Wildcats Brad Newley – Sydney Kings David Barlow – Melbourne United Jesse Wagstaff – Perth Wildcats Alex Loughton – Cairns Taipans Daniel Kickert – Sydney Kings
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