Stibners and Rollers move through to quarters

With NSWIS wheelchair basketball veteran Brett Stibners again contributing to the win, the Australian Rollers have defeated Japan 68-55 to finish the group phase with a 4-1 record to qualify for the quarter finals at the Rio Paralympics.

With matches still to be completed, the make-up of the quarter-finals, and Australia’s likely opponent remains to be seen, however the Rollers ensured that they would progress with confidence restored after a solid 13-point win over their regional neighbours.

Australia formed a seven-point lead to quarter time and stretched that margin to 14 at the main break, before wrapping up the win in the third.

Stibners dropped four points, added four assists and pulled down two boards in his 19 minutes on court.

The Rollers had earlier posted victories over the Netherlands, Turkey and Canada before an uncharacteristically subdued performance in their defeat to Spain on day 4.

Australia is expected to finish third in Pool A, by virtue of an inferior points difference in results head to head with Spain and Turkey, with whom they are expected to finish on equal points with. If this occurs, Australia will play Great Britain, who have finished second in Pool B, after defeat to the USA.

Meanwhile, NSWIS wheelchair tennis player Adam Kellerman has been bundled out of the men’s singles in the third round, going down 6-1 6-2 to Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez.

Kellerman was again plagued by his serve, giving up six double faults and ended the match in 70 minutes having won 38 points to Fernandez’s 60.