AUSTRALIA remained unbeaten in the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, bucking a slow start against Guam to score a 93-80 win in the second window Thursday night in Mangilao.
Young guard Elijah Pepper finally got the Boomers going, hitting a trio of three pointers in a 16-2 run by the reigning Asia Cup champions who got the better of the home team who starred San Miguel guard Jericho Cruz, on even terms in the opening quarter.
The huge run actually erased a 26-27 deficit and put the Boomers in front for good, 42-29.
Pepper, 24, finished with 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the three-point arc, guiding the Boomers to their third straight win for a spot in the second round of the qualifiers in August.
The Boomers will now travel to the country and face the Philippines on Sundat also at the MoA Arena.
Tanner Krebs led Australia with 28 points on an 8-of-13 shooting clip from three-point range in his debut for the Boomers, who regained the solo provisional lead in Group A pending the outcome of the Philippines-New Zealand game at the Mall of Asia Arena which is being played as of writing time.
Gilas Pilipinas holds a 2-0 slate, while New Zealand is at 0-2.
Guam suffered its third straight loss and stayed at the bottom of the same group.
BJ Freeman had explosive debut for Guam with 25 points and nine rebounds, Takumi Simon added 19 and Ben Borja with 11.
Cruz, fresh from winning a second straight PBA Philippine Cup championship with San Miguel had nine points but was held to a 4-of-10 shooting from the field.
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