By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After trailing by ten points early in the fourth quarter, Australia stormed back to defeat New Zealand, 79-77, in Wellington’s TSB Arena on Monday.
Down one point, William Hickey beat the buzzer with a game-winning three-pointer for the Boomers. On Friday, in the first half of the two-part series between the rivals, the 26-year-old guard also tucked in a clutch triple. Between two key makes, Australia went up to 2-0 in Group A of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asia Qualifiers.
Davo finished with 12 points, with 30-year-old Keanu Pinder and 33-year-old Nick Kay reaching 21 and 20 points, respectively. For the hosts, Sam Mennenga tallied a team-high 16 points, including an incredible poster dunk late in the third quarter.
DAVO HICKEY BREAKS THE HEARTS OF NEW ZEALAND! 🚨🇦🇺#FIBAWC x #StepItUpBoomers pic.twitter.com/SJnacoBgsX
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) December 1, 2025
FIBA World Cup 2027 Asia Qualifiers
Group A
1. Philippines 4 (2-0)
2. Australia 4 (2-0)
3. New Zealand 2 (0-2)
4. Guam 2 (0-2)
Group B
1. Japan 4 (2-0)
2. South Korea 4 (2-0)
3. China 2 (0-2)
4. Chinese Taipei 2 (0-2)
Group C
1. Jordan 4 (2-0)
2. Iran 4 (2-0)
3. Iraq 2 (0-2)
4. Syria 2 (0-2)
Group D
1. Saudi Arabia 4 (2-0)
2. Qatar 3 (1-1)
3. Lebanon 3 (1-1)
4. India 2 (0-2)
-Top 3 national teams from each group advance to the next round, carrying their results to a new group
-Top 3 national teams and the best fourth team of the two new groups advance to the World Cup
-Qatar has an automatic host berth