It was a day of highs and heartbreaks for Australia’s wheelchair basketball teams in Bangkok, with the Rollers surging to a commanding 20-point win over Thailand, while the Gliders fell just short in a 51-50 thriller against Japan.
Gliders Head Coach Craig Campbell said his team executed well and were competitive throughout, showing strong defensive growth before Japan’s late surge in the final quarter proved decisive.
“I thought our scout was spot on. We were able to force the ball out of their main shooters’ hands early and make adjustments after the first quarter,” Campbell said.
“Defensively, we hit chairs more consistently, which was a real step forward for us. Taishar Ovens was excellent at both ends. She was aggressive, composed, and led by example.
“It’s always tough to lose by one point, but we’re doing all the right things. We generated the shots we wanted, now it’s about rewarding ourselves by finishing those opportunities. We’ll learn from this, stay connected, and keep building as the tournament goes on.”
While the Gliders were left to rue a one-point defeat, the Rollers were made to work for their gritty 63–43 win over Thailand, overcoming a spirited home side and a passionate local crowd.
Rollers Head Coach Brad Ness credited his team’s discipline and trust in the game plan for the result.
“We knew they could challenge us, and they actually won a quarter against us in the practice game,” Ness said.
“They’ve really improved, and it’s a credit to their program and the work they’re doing. For us, it was about trusting the process. Even when the shots weren’t dropping early, we were hitting our KPIs and sticking to the plan. Once we started converting, we opened it up and controlled the game.
“Any day you get a 20-point win at this level is a good day.”
The Gliders will open tomorrow’s schedule with a clash against China at 3:30pm AEDT, with the Rollers to follow against Iran at 6:00pm AEDT.
