Tasmania JackJumpers win bronze at FIBA Intercontinental Cup

Tasmania JackJumpers have secured a bronze medal at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore after a thrilling 80-75 win over Lebanon champions, Al Riyadi Beirut.

The first team to represent Australia at the ICC, the JackJumpers looked strong in the first half leading by 7 at the main break. But the Lebanese side rallied after half time, to contain JackJumpers offense and limit their scoring efforts and turn the tables to take a 7 point advantage heading into the final quarter.

But the JackJumpers showed the grit and relentlessness that secured them the NBL24 Championship in the fourth. Led by Will Magnay (19 points) and player of the game, Majok Deng (13 points) the the JackJumpers were steadfast in their defense chipping away at the deficit, before an Anthony Drmic dagger from the arc within the final minute, all but secured the victory for Tasmania.

Will Magnay finished with 19 points and seven rebounds on 8/12 shooting in the win for Tasmania while Majok Deng added 13 points, six boards and five assists with both players entering NBL25 having played at Paris 2024.

Drmic not only hit the game's biggest shot but finished with 12 points and three assists with all 10 of Crawford's points coming in the fourth quarter to go with four rebounds and four assists.

Milton Doyle also had nine points, six assists and five rebounds with the only concern for the JackJumpers being a potential lower leg injury late to Sean Macdonald.

Big man Elmedin Kikanovic delivered 16 points and five rebounds for Al Riyadi while Hayk Gyokchyan top-scored with 19 points along with eight boards and six assists.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Anthony Drmic and Milton Doyle took Tasmania out to a 12-6 lead early before still being on top 24-20 by the end of the opening period.

The JackJumpers were still leading 39-32 by the half-time break on the back of a triple from Majok Deng just before the break with another 10 offensive rebounds to four a big factor with Will Magnay having 10 points at the interval.

Tasmania were out to a seven-point edge early in the second half with Doyle knocking down a three-pointer, but Al Riyadi soon caught fire for the rest of the third period.

By the time Karim Zeinoun hit a three right on the three quarter-time buzzer it was Al Riyadi leading 58-51 and the JackJumpers had work to do to stop their momentum and get back into the contest.

Jordon Crawford then opened the final period with his first score of the game for Tasmania before Deng landed a three ball, and then he threw down a dunk to bring it back to a two-point ball game.

A dunk from Magnay put the JackJumpers in front before Crawford landed a huge three. Al Riyadi weren’t done with, though, and a four-point play from Hayk Gyokchyan had them right back in it.

Wael Arakji then hit another three to restore Al Riyadi to the lead with just over two minutes on the clock but Crawford made another big shot to put Tasmania back in front.

Ultimately the biggest shot of the game was a three ball from Anthony Drmic with 45 seconds to play and the JackJumpers went on to win by five and claim third place of the Intercontinental Cup.

The JackJumpers will now fly to Perth to open HoopsFest for the NBL25 opener on Thursday night in a Championship Series rematch with Melbourne United.

FIBA INTERCONTINENTAL CUP – SINGAPORE 2024

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 80 (Magnay 19, Deng 13, Drmic 12)

AL RIYADI BEIRUT 75 (Gyokchyan 19, Kikanovic 16, Saoud 14)

BOX SCORE