Vasiljevic, Humphries lead Boomers in style

DJ Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries have led the Boomers to two big victories across the weekend in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualification window.

Australia came from 13 points behind on Thursday night against Korea to run out 85-71 winners, then the Boomers reduced Indonesia to just two points in the third quarter in a 106-51 success in Jakarta on Sunday night.

Humphries, who won his first Mark Davis Trophy on Friday night, scored a game-high 18 points for Australia, while Vasiljevic added 13 points in the 55-point win against Indonesia, sparked by a 22-2 third quarter burst.

Vasiljevic said it was a great result to get all the squad some valuable court time and the opportunity to wear the green and gold.

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“The starting five did a great job in getting things done, but we wanted to get the young guys involved,” Vasiljevic said.

“We had three young guys and six debutants who hadn’t been part of the Boomers before. We wanted to get them out there and everyone scored tonight.”

Vasiljevic said the Boomers culture is prevalent, especially in an Olympic year and this team was closeknit, both on and off the court.

“It’s gold vibes only, that’s what Patty Mills has set along with Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova,” Vasiljevic said.

“We hang out with each other off the court, we eat together, we tour together, everything is together.”

Mitch McCarron dished six assists and grabbed six rebounds to go with three points, while Nick Marshall had four points and three rebounds against Indonesia.

The Boomers came back from a 33-20 deficit in the second quarter on Thursday night in Bendigo to roar past Korea in a blistering final quarter performance.

Vasiljevic scored 14 points, including two huge three-pointers in the final 10 minutes, to go with a game-high eight assists and five rebounds.

"We started off not a bit sloppy, but I think we didn’t quit,” Vasiljevic said.

“The Boomers are all about fight, all about grit, and we showed that. Ben Henshaw came in and gave us great minutes; Nick Kay led us, and then everybody else on the bench was active.

“They were up and about, they got the crowd involved, and I think that just turned it in.”

McCarron added another six points, five rebounds and five assists, while Humphries added six points and four rebounds and Marshall scored four points against Korea.

Australia now tops their group with a 2-0 record before the next round of matches in November, where the Boomers will travel to Thailand and Korea.