World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers: Krebs, Pepper shoot Boomers to Guam win

Guam put up a gallant fight but with NBL finals participants Tanner Krebs (198-G-1996, college: SMC) and Elijah Pepper (193-G-2001, college: UC Davis) combining for 12 three-pointers, the Australian Boomers stayed unbeaten in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with the 93-80 victory. To start the second FIBA international window for the Asian Qualifiers ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, it was Guam playing host to the Boomers at the University of Guan Field House. It might have been an almighty mismatch in terms of countries with basketball pedigree and just sheer size and strength, but full credit to Guam for never giving up the fight and keeping the Boomers on their toes all night before they secured the 13-point victory. The major difference between the two teams was the combined three-point shooting performance for the Boomers of Krebs and Pepper before they return their focus next week to the start of the NBL finals. Krebs will be back in action for Melbourne United against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Thursday night and Pepper for the Perth Wildcats before that on Wednesday against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but both enjoyed the shooting dynamics in Guam. Playing his first game in Boomers colours, Krebs was on fire knocking down 8/13 from behind the three-point arc eclipsing any shooting performance he's had in his 174-game NBL career. He ended up with 28 points for the game. Pepper has finished the NBL regular season in hot form for the Wildcats. He continued that against Guam with 23 points and two assists to go with shooting 5/13 from downtown. Guam opened the scoring in the game through BJ Freeman (198-G/F-2002, college: Arizona St., agency: The Crew A.M.) and he put them back in front again midway through the opening period, and again with three minutes to go before three quarter-time with a triple. Scores ended up tied at 17-17 by quarter-time before Australia did pull away in the second frame with 29 points to 16 with Pepper knocking down four three-pointers on his own in those 10 minutes. The Boomers were leading 46-33 by half-time and that advantage did get out to as much as 22, but still to Guam's credit they kept on coming and the Boomers had to dig deep to hold firm for the 13-point victory. Australia did dominate the possession game including finishing with 20 offensive rebounds to seven for 14 second chance points to eight along with forcing Guam into 15 turnovers from which they were able to score 18 points off. The Boomers shot 43 per cent from the field and went 15/43 from downtown at 35 per cent while taking 13 extra shots than Guam who went 46 per cent overall and 13/27 at 48 per cent from deep. On top of what Krebs and Pepper did for the Boomers, Illawarra Hawks co-captain Samson Froling (209-C/F-2000, college: Creighton) put up 13 points and 10 rebounds with Melbourne United's Tom Wilson (195-G-1997, college: SMU) providing 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Two-time Perth Wildcats championship winning power forward Nick Kay had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. BJ Freeman top-scored for Guam with 25 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four assists with Takumi Sion adding 19 points, four boards and four assists, and Ben Borja II (203-F/C-1998, college: Cal Maritime) 11 points and three rebounds.

Meanwhile, later on Thursday night and the New Zealand Tall Blacks will take on the Philippines in Manila. That's a Tall Blacks squad featuring Breakers players Taylor Britt (188-G-1996, college: Southeast CC), Maxwell Darling (196-F-2000, agency: Octagon Europe), Carlin Davison, Alexander McNaught (185-G-2002), Sam Mennenga (206-F-2001, college: Davidson) and Reuben Te Rangi (198-F/G-1994). There's also Taine Murray (196-G-2002, college: Virginia) and Tyrell Harrison from the Brisbane Bullets, Keanu Rasmussen (188-G-2003, college: CBU) from the Adelaide 36ers and the squad is rounded out by former NBL players Jordan Ngatai and Yanni Wetzell.
Courtesy of: nbl.com.au