International basketball: SEABL All Stars take on Chinese Taipei at Boroondara Sporting Complex

Big time basketball came to the eastern suburbs on Saturday night when the touring Chinese Taipei national team took on an All Stars team of local players in an exhibition game at the Boroondara Sporting Complex.

Big time basketball came to the eastern suburbs on Saturday night when the touring Chinese Taipei national team took on the South-East Australian Basketball League All Stars in an exhibition game at the Boroondara Sporting Complex.

With the stands packed, a high standard game of international basketball unfolded with the visitors running out 80-76 victors, after the All Stars had led for most of the first half.

All Stars coach Jonathan Goodman was happy with his team’s performance, one that highlighted a few future stars.

“It was great spectacle tonight,” he said. “The fans got to see some high quality international basketball in our own backyard.

“For a group that has just come together I thought we did pretty well and matched them. We had some good players for sure. Igor Hadziomerovic who has had NBL and college experience was very good. I thought Lucas Barker the point guard from Dandenong played well and Chris Kaba, who came in off the bench, was fantastic.”

Top scorer for the All Stars was Anthony Odunsi from Sandringham, with 18 points, while Barker was a livewire with 10 points and eight rebounds.

For the visitors, Ying-Chun Chen scored 18 and Liu Chen chipped in with 16.

Chinese Taipei head coach Charles Parker was pleased with the performance.

The post-match get together Picture: Lawrence Surgers

“It was a good game and I am very happy with the quality that was on display tonight,” he said. “We are working hard for the upcoming Asian Games, which start on the 18th of August in Indonesia. We have played four games touring Australia. I just want to get our team ready for our first game against Japan in the Asian Games and tonight has been good preparation. “

Parker, from the United States, is just four weeks into the job and is a good choice as head coach.

“I was head coach of the University of Southern California and I spent 14 years in the NBA, 10 years as a bench coach with the Dallas Mavericks, three years with New Orleans and a year with the Brooklyn Nets as a forward scout,” he said. “I am really enjoying my time as coach, these guys are passionate about basketball and I am looking forward to the Asian Games.”

Hawthorn Basketball Association general manager Brock Rogers was pleased the association was able to follow last year’s successful US College game.

“After the success of the University of Wisconsin game in 2017 we were committed to bringing more elite level basketball to Boroondara to provide the grassroots community an opportunity to see high quality basketball,” he said. “Tonight was a great game, we have had a good crowd and we saw some up and coming Aussie stars in action.”