ANDREJ Lemanis might not have many spots free for the FIBA World Cup in Spain later this year from his Boomers team currently playing China, but Mark Worthington, Luke Nevill and Brock Motum have certainly done their chances no harm whatsoever.

With the majority of the Boomers squad that will play at the World Cup in Spain starting August 30 unavailable for the Sino-Australia Challenge that began with two matches in Perth, and will conclude with two in China, all players in the squad that knew impressing would be crucial.

Australia came from 15 points down to win Game 1 in overtime last Thursday night 97-95 at Challenge Stadium and then dominated Game 2 on Saturday night to win 85-64, but more importantly was the impressive way the Boomers played and those who stood out.

West Australian pair Mark Worthington and Luke Nevill as well as Lucas Walker, Brock Motum, Rhys Martin, Hugh Greenwood and Ben Madgen were just some of the players to make their mark in the first two matches with the Games 3 and 4 to now come in China this Friday and Sunday.

With Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Brad Newley, Aleks Maric, Ben Simmons, David Barlow, Cam Bairstow, David Andersen, Chris Goulding, Damian Martin, Anthony Petrie and Adam Gibson to potentially be available come the World Cup, it was important to standout in this series as well.

Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis has been most impressed with the players for putting the overall performance of the team first, though, and the fact that none of them have gone out for themselves.

"It's a really intriguing situation in that people are playing for their own individual spots and yet they need to find a way to contribute to the team in this environment," Lemanis said.

"I've been really proud of the way they have stuck together as a group, and played as a team and done the right thing for the team. People aren’t looking out for themselves which is very pleasing and a great statement as to who they are as people, and where Australian basketball is at."

Worthington is the man with vast international experience in the team playing China with the dual Olympian working hard in Game 1 before fouling out and then starring in Game 2 particularly early to set up the match-winning lead that the Boomers never came close to surrendering.

On Thursday, Worthington finished with nine points and five rebounds in just under 23 minutes and then on Saturday night, he ended up with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds while shooting 5-of-6 from the field and nailing just one of Australia's five threes over the course of the two games.

"There's obviously an experience with Wortho of playing in many situations and he's able to give direction to the group one way or the other – to either rev up or calm down," he said.

"He obviously started well in this game and he was focused on ensuring we got ourselves off to a good start.

"He brought a good energy and did a good job of attacking the rim and knocking down a jumper. He set the tone with our defensive energy up the floor. I thought he did a good job of helping the tone and the direction from the start of the game."

Despite China possessing a host of giant centres a couple of which even towered over his 7'2 frame, Nevill proved himself the most effective big man across the two teams in the two games as well.

In Game 1, the WA-product who has since played at the University of Utah, the Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, Townsville Crocodiles and in Russia and Taiwan while also being on the fringe of an NBA contract, kept the Boomers in the contest.

He finished that game with 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 7-of-10 from the field even though he played just under 17 minutes of court time. Then in Game 2, he added another 12 points and three boards in 19 minutes while shooting 5-of-7 from the floor.

Lemanis liked what he saw from him.

"Luke has obviously come back from playing from Taiwan with good confidence where he was a major part of the offence, he scored a lot and was big on the rim," he said.

"He seems to have a better presence on the rim as well than he had previously when he used to shy away from contact, but now he is going at contact and going at the rim and going through players.

"Luke has been great and over the last five years he has continued to rock up. He always makes himself available and says that he loves playing for Australia, and wants to be part of it. He has been great and you want people who are proud to wear the green and gold."

Lemanis is glad to see that Nevill's mid-range jump shot is now a strong part of his game along with his presence around the rim strengthening.

"That 15 or 17-foot jumper is something that is money for him as well," Lemanis said.

"I honestly can't remember how he was when he started five years back, but even when he was playing at Perth I felt that something he could do was knock down a 15 or 17-foot jumper. It's certainly a good shot for him."

Article by Chris Pike