Cotton scores 21 and Boomers win big

Bryce Cotton has wasted no time settling into Australian Boomers colours on a familiar floor at RAC Arena with the six-time NBL MVP putting up 21 points in Monday night's 92-49 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers win over the Philippines.

The Boomers continued their unbeaten run in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar in 2027 with a record 124-52 win against Guam back on Friday night where they knocked down 24/51 from three-point territory.

They were back at Perth's RAC Arena on Monday night playing host to the Philippines and started on fire with 33 points to 14 in the opening quarter with Cotton scoring 13 of those while knocking down all five shot attempts.

Mitch Creek is also enjoying his brief stop back in Australia and had eight points in those first 10 minutes with the Boomers ending up shooting 54 per cent to 40 in the opening term along with getting up an extra nine shots with six offensive rebounds and forcing the Philippines into seven turnovers.

Philippines did well to make it a contest in the second quarter by scoring just the 13 points themselves on 2/18 from the field and 9/10 at the foul line but positively from their point of view holding the Boomers to just eight points.

Australia only managed to shoot 2/16 in the quarter while missing all 11 three-point attempts to just lead 41-27 by half-time with Cotton up to 15 points, Creek 12 and Tasmania JackJumpers forward Josh Bannan eight with five rebounds.

Australian then responded with a flying start to the second half going on an 11-4 run in the opening four minutes of the third quarter and then ended up with 22 to 10 for the term to be leading 63-37 by three quarter-time.

It was then another 29 points to 12 in the fourth frame for the Boomers to cruise to the eventual 43-point victory on the back of shooting 17/40 from the field, 7/22 from downtown and 10/14 from the foul line through the second half.

The Philippines managed just 22 points on 10/31 shooting and 2/13 from deep in the second half while having another 12 turnovers with Australia ending up with 16 extra shots and 12 more free throws for the night.

The Boomers also pulled down 21 offensive rebounds. It was Bryce Cotton on his former home floor with the Perth Wildcats showing the way with 21 points and four assists with 5/9 three-point shooting.

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA guard Tyrese Proctor also had 16 points, four assists and four rebounds with Mitch Creek adding 13 points and seven boards, and Josh Bannan 11 points and 10 rebound for the game's only double double.

Keanu Pinder also had nine points and five rebounds ahead of his return to the Cairns Taipans in NBL27 with Taran Armstrong adding four points, two rebounds and two steals, and Angus Glover four points and four assists.

Earlier in the evening in Auckland, the New Zealand Tall Blacks backed up their double overtime win on Friday over the Philippines beating Guam 129-75.

Sam Mennenga finished with 27 points and nine rebounds for the Tall Blacks, Taine Murray 25 points and five assists, Carlin Davison 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, Reuben Te Rangi 12 points and three assists, Tohi Smith-Milner 11 points and nine rebounds, and Sam Timmins 11 points and 10 boards.

Australia 92 – Philippines 49

Stat leaders

Bryce Cotton – 21 PTS, 5 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL
Tyrese Proctor – 16 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
Mitch Creek – 13 PTS, 7 REB
Josh Bannan – 11 PTS, 11 REB, 2 STL
Keanu Pinder – 9 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL