'Boom': Tanner Krebs catches fire in Guam win

• ‍Will Hickey wins it, Australian fans missed it‍
• Kay, White and Pepper lead Boomers’ new-look squad for Guam and Philippines qualifiers
• 83 new coaching modules in BA's online etrainu

Tanner Krebs delivered a shooting clinic in Australia’s 93–80 Group A win against Guam at the University of Guam Field House, drilling eight three-pointers and finishing with 28 points to set the tone.

The 6-foot-6 wing stretched the floor early, punishing closeouts and converting catch-and-shoot looks as the Boomers broke the game open with a 29-point second quarter. Krebs’ perimeter accuracy forced defensive adjustments, creating space for Australia to dominate the offensive glass and generate second-chance points.

In a balanced performance built on ball movement and rebounding control, Krebs’ shot-making proved the decisive edge and underlined his growing offensive responsibility.

Key Details

• Result: Australia 93 def. Guam 80
• When: Wednesday, 26th February 2026
• Where: University of Guam Field House, Guam

Snapshot

Quarter Scores: 17–17 │ 29–16 │ 27–26 │ 20–21
Largest Lead: Australia by 22
Lead Changes: 7 │ Times Tied: 7
Time Leading: Australia 30:56 │ Guam 5:51

Australia turned a one-point edge into a double-digit halftime buffer with a 29-point second term, then extended it to 13 by three-quarter time.

Shooting

• FG%: Australia 42.5% (34-from-80) │ Guam 46%
• 2PT FG%: Australia 51.4% (19-from-37) │ Guam 45%
• 3PT FG%: Australia 34.9% (15-from-43) │ Guam 48.2%
• FT: Australia 10-of-15 (66.7%) │ Guam 62.5%

Rebounding

• Total Rebounds: Australia 49 │ Guam 35
• Offensive Rebounds: Australia 20 │ Guam 7
• Second Chance Points: Australia 22 │ Guam 8

Playmaking & Pressure

• Assists: Australia 25 │ Guam 15
• Turnovers: Australia 11 │ Guam 15
• Points Off Turnovers: Australia 18 │ Guam 11
• Fast Break Points: Australia 12 │ Guam 22

Key Performers – Australia

Tanner Krebs – 28 points, 8-from-13 from three, 4 rebounds
Elijah Pepper – 23 points, 5-from-13 from three, 3 assists
Nick Kay – 10 points, 11 rebounds (9 offensive), 5 assists
Sam Froling – 13 points, 10 rebounds
Tom Wilson – 11 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds

Wilson orchestrated the offence with 10 assists, while Kay’s nine offensive boards anchored Australia’s +14 rebounding edge.

Advanced Edge

• Australia scored 30 points in the paint to Guam’s 14.
• Bench production favoured Guam (36–26), but Australia’s starters carried the load.
• Australia’s 18 points off turnovers offset Guam’s transition threat.

What Happened

Australia established early control after a tied first quarter, outscoring Guam 29-16 in the second period to take a commanding 46-33 halftime lead. The Boomers maintained their advantage throughout the third quarter, leading by as many as 22 points before Guam mounted a late rally in the final period.

The turning point came midway through the second quarter when Jericho Cruz briefly gave Guam a 27-26 lead with a three-pointer. Australia responded immediately through Tom Wilson and Elijah Pepper, who each drained triples to reclaim the advantage at 32-27. This pivotal sequence sparked a dominant 10-0 run that extended Australia's lead to 42-29.

Krebs was absolutely on fire from downtown, connecting on eight of his 13 attempts from beyond the arc. His shooting ability stretched Guam's defence and created opportunities for teammates throughout the contest. Pepper provided crucial support with 23 points on efficient 8-from-17 shooting, including five three-pointers. Wilson orchestrated the offence masterfully, recording a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists while grabbing eight boards.

Australia's superior shooting was the decisive factor, particularly from three-point range where they connected on 15-from-43 attempts compared to Guam's 13-from-27. The Boomers also dominated the glass, out-rebounding their opponents 49-35. Sam Froling contributed a solid double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Nick Kay added 10 points and 11 rebounds in the frontcourt.

Freeman fought valiantly for Guam, leading all scorers with 25 points while adding nine rebounds and five steals. Takumi Simon provided a late spark with 19 points, including five three-pointers, but it wasn't enough to overcome Australia's balanced attack. The hosts struggled to control the ball with 15 turnovers, allowing Australia to capitalise on their mistakes and maintain control throughout the contest.

Australia broke the game open in the second quarter and controlled the glass to secure a 13-point win over Guam in Group A action.

GROUP A (6/12 Games Played)
---------------------------------------------------------------

#  TEAM           GP   W   L    %     FOR   AGT   +/-   FA    AA   PTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1  Australia      3    3   0   100.0  256   236    20  85.3  78.7    6
2  Philippines    3    2   1    66.7  248   186    62  82.7  62.0    5
3  New Zealand    3    1   2    33.3  225   229    -4  75.0  76.3    4
4  Guam           3    0   3     0.0  197   275   -78  65.7  91.7    3

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Australia qualified for the Second Round