This win has buoyed hopes the Boomers can finally win a medal at an Olympics – an achievement Ingles says “would mean the world” – when their Tokyo campaign begins on July 25.
The Boomers,ranked No.3 in the world,had beaten the top-ranked USA in an exhibition series in Melbourne in 2019 but this win is of far greater importance.
“We walked into this game expecting to win. We are not here to play these games and,not saying anyone is going in to lose,but I think … we have been building and preparing this team … for a long time for these moments,” Ingles said.
“Twelve years ago we started,and have slowly been getting better and better over these last few campaigns and,obviously,in the last couple[of Olympics],finishing fourth. We are right there and,obviously,we have proved it in the past we can compete and match it with anybody,so,obviously,it’s nice to win.”
Mills,one of two Australian flagbearers in Tokyo,said the Boomers were “not satisfied,we have a long way to go,we can still get a lot better but,as I said,it’s defence where we are going to hang our hat”. They will now play Nigeria on Wednesday.
Coach Brian Goorjian said frontline big man Aron Baynes,the starting centre,had escaped any structural or major damage but had a sore knee after colliding with USA guard Bradley Beal less than four minutes into the game. He did not take any further part in the contest.