Tess Madgen and Darcee Garbin named in final pre-Olympic Opals team

Tess Madgen and Darcee Garbin have been named in the final 12-strong Australian Opals team for the FIBA Asian Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament. 

The Tournament will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and represents the new qualification system.

Pre-Olympic qualification tournaments will be held in the other zones simultaneously including the Pan American and African zones.

Head Coach Sandy Brondello said that this tournament not only allows some valuable time together playing meaningful games, but also enables the coaches more opportunities to evaluate different players leading into the Olympic qualifying window in February. “It is great to have Liz Cambage and Marianna Tolo back in the team. They are both key players for us and it is important that we get them back integrated in the Opals system as much as we can as we move forward. Tess Madgen and Tessa Lavey played good roles for us at World Cup and get another opportunity with the team during this window”, Ms Brondello said.

The team named as follows:

Rebecca Allen Arka Gdynia Poland / New York Liberty
Elizabeth Cambage China / Las Vegus Aces
Katie-Rae Ebzery Perth Lynx
Darcee Garbin JCU Townsville Fire
Cayla George Deakin University Melbourne Boomers
Tess Lavey Bendigo Spirit
Tess Madgen JCU Townsville Fire
Ezi Magbegor Deakin University Melbourne Boomers
Leilani Mitchell Southside Flyers
Jenna O’Hea Southside Flyers
Steph Talbot Adelaide Lightning/Minnesota Lynx
Marianna Tolo University of Canberra Capitals

The Opals will play in the following games:

14 November AUS v TPE MABA Stadium Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
16 November  IND v AUS
17 NovemberJPN v AUS