There is a score to settle for the Boomers in their Olympic opener against Spain, with Jock Landale keen to get one back for his old mates in a Paris grudge match
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A one-point loss in the Rio 2016 bronze medal game and a double-overtime loss at China's 2019 World Cup semi-finals - both after the Boomers held big leads - remain burned into the memories of Australian basketball fans.
Landale announced himself on the world stage in that Chinese tournament, which was also Andrew Bogut's last as a Boomer.
And while Landale helped the Boomers scratch the itch with a maiden international medal - bronze at Tokyo's Games three years ago - that near-miss in Beijing still stings.
"It's a cool rivalry, one that's been crafted over a lot of years of battling it out ... there's a little bit of something extra going into that game," he said from Paris ahead of Saturday's Olympic opener in nearby Lille.
"Boges, being one of my good mates, that being his last international game, carries a bit of weight and that was my first taste of what it meant."
The 2019 World Cup loss was devastating as the team again fell short of international silverware, Patty Mills missing a free throw in the final seconds of regular time and a Matthew Dellavedova floater also rimming out on the final play of the first overtime.
"We've got to find an altar somewhere and burn a sacrifice to the basketball gods, 'cause they're not kissing us on the d**k yet, like they do Spain," Boomers assistant coach and former Chicago Bulls NBA champion Luc Longley said at the time.
Landale needs no reminding of that night, or the significance of Saturday's game in Lille before pool games against the equally-tough Canada and Greece.
"You hear about it but only really understand how much goes into it when you lose an opportunity to win a medal," Landale said.
"The sting in that locker-room was unbearable."
Only the top two sides from each pool will be guaranteed progression to the quarter-finals, meaning it's essentially a must-win clash.
"I want to get that W for the sake of the old guys, some of my best mates but that's just the first step in the road but an important one," Landale said.
Spain, despite being the world's No.2 side, were forced to win a qualification tournament earlier this month to gain a Paris berth.
Australia's lead-up form has been encouraging, a six-point loss to a stacked United States followed by wins over Nikola Jokic's Serbia, Puerto Rico and a French team containing twin towers Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama.
Australian Associated Press
