Garlepp named Gems assistant coach for Asia Cup

Sydney Flames’ Renae Garlepp was on Wednesday unveiled as an assistant coach for the Australian Gems team for next month’s FIBA Women’s Under 18 Asia Cup in China.

Garlepp, who joins Kristen Veal (head coach) and Katherine McPhail (assistant) on the staff, and her 12-strong green and gold team – which recently wrapped up a camp at Canberra’s Australian Instituate of Sport – will compete in Shenzhen from June 22-30.

The squad features nine players from the FIBA Women’s Under 17 Oceania Championship in October last year – including NSW’s Opal Bird, Saffron Shiels and Jade Crook as well as Monique Bobongie, Teyahna Bond, Bonnie Deas, Hilary Fuller, Sienna Harvey and Lara Somfai.

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Emilija Dakic, Zara Russell and Monique Williams have been added to the Gems team that will travel to China in June. 

The FIBA fifth-ranked Gems team is set to face off against Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, and Korea in Group A, while Group B will see New Zealand, China, Indonesia, and Japan battle it out.

“The Asia Cup is a significant event for our youth teams and with the depth of the region in the youth women’s game, this will be a great challenge for the Gems,” said Basketball Australia’s director of high performance – coaching and talent identification, Peter Lonergan.

“We are excited about this young group and the depth and versatility of the team.” 

If the Gems finish in the top four at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, they will automatically qualify for the 2025 U19 Women’s World Championships.   

Stay up to date with all the harbour city club’s off-season news here.