CHICAGO - A 95-90 overtime loss to Serbia on Tuesday not only dashed Australia's hopes for a podium finish in the ongoing Paris Olympics, it also marked the end of an era.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is leaving the national team.
"Yes. Had a good run," he told me via text message to confirm his departure from the national team.
READ Jokic leads Serbia comeback from 24 down to stun Australia
Goorjian first coached the Boomers in 2001, a tenure that lasted seven years. In 2020, he was asked by the Australian federation to return and he guided the Aussies to their first-ever men's Olympic basketball medal with a bronze harvest in Tokyo.
Job well done. Time to pass the baton.
"Told them I would do the World Cup and then Olympics. Want my assistant to take over," the Pepperdine University alum who entered the 1976 NBA draft added.
The Aussie-American from California is the winningest coach in NBL history with six titles. He also has six NBA Coach of the Year awards to his name.
PBA RETURN?
Goorjian also had a 10-year stint in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). But to Filipino hoops fans, Goorjan is best remembered as the head coach of PBA guest team Bay Area Dragons before working as a consultant for the Strong Group Athletics (SGA) team that competed in Dubai last January.
Last March, Goorjian inked a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings, but since the NBL only runs from October to February, he still has time on his hands to fill the rest of the calendar.
I asked if the PBA is an option.
"I am open to anything. Loved the Philippines. Still have a lot to give," he replied.
Following Meralco's Philippine Cup triumph, having a foreign coach as team consultant is not just fashionable.
Nenad Vucinic proved that it can be weaponized after the Serbian mentor impressed the league and the fans with his creative sets on offense.
Given the close ties of SGA and Converge, plus Goorjian's kinship with FiberXers assistant coach Charles Tiu, Goorjan could have a PBA home should he choose to pursue it.
Assuming of course that his contract with the Kings allows such international forays during the NBL off-season.
JOKIC IS NO JOKE.
Meanwhile, I asked Goorjian about the loss to Serbia where the Boomers blew a 24-point lead.
"We were never going to blow Serbia out. No. 2 team in the world. Best player. We got the game where we wanted it. Young guards and 20 turnovers."
Behind Patty Mills and Josh Giddey, who combined for 51 points, the Boomers took a 44-20 lead at the 7:03 mark of the second quarter following a Duop Reath bucket off a Dante Exum dime.
There was still plenty of time, though. Eventually, Nikola Jokic (21 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists) happened,
A chapter closes for coach Brian Goorjan.
Amazing run. No regrets.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
