The Australian and New Zealand men’s and women’s basketball teams are set to collide on the Sunshine Coast.
The sides will meet at UniSCArena on May 9, during a new three-game series dubbed the Trans-Tasman Throwdown. Games will also be contested at Adelaide on May 7 and Hamilton on May 11.
The series represents the first time the Boomers will play the Tall Blacks in Australia since 2021. The Opals most recently beat the Tall Ferns for the bronze medal at the Asia Cup in Sydney in 2023.
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Basketball Australia chief executive officer Matt Scriven lauded the format and locations.
“The arrival of the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series is a testament to the rise of the game in both Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“We want the inaugural series to set the foundation for a tradition that fans, players and teams will embrace, and we look forward to introducing a new era of rivalry between Australia and New Zealand basketball.”
Australian basketball legend Andrew Bogut was on the Sunshine Coast yesterday to spruik the contest.
“I think we need more and more events like this, especially in regional parts of of Australia that don’t usually get first dibs on these kinds of things,” he said.
“I think it’s very, very important for boys and girls, young and old, to see the pathway of where you can go to one day.”
Basketball New Zealand chief executive officer Dillon Boucher said it should be a well-contested series.
“The rivalry between our two countries is unmatched, and these three games promise to be action packed,” he said.
Sunshine Coast councillor Terry Landsberg said the fixture put the region on the basketball map, in the lead-up to the 2032 Games.
“Drawing the Boomers and the Opals to UniSC Arena is a win for local basketball fans and aspiring athletes who will get to see our men’s and women’s national teams in the flesh after their Olympic campaigns in Paris last year, which saw the Opals win a bronze medal,” he said.
“With the Sunshine Coast proposed to host preliminary basketball matches for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our existing facilities and our capability to host high-profile events.”
He said the fixture would bolster the link between New Zealand and the Sunshine Coast.
“New Zealand remains our top target for international tourism with year-round direct flights from the Sunshine Coast now available,” he said.
“The extensive social media and broadcast coverage across New Zealand and Australia will significantly enhance the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a premier destination for major events.”
General public tickets are available from 9am on February 5. Tickets start from $19 at ticketek.com.au.
