KAYSERI (FIBA World Championship) - Star Australian centre Aleks Maric says he is fit and ready to go for the Boomers first Group A game against Jordan later today (28 August), despite limited preparation threatening to keep him out of the tournament.

After finishing his season with Serbian powerhouse Partizan in June, Maric took a well earned break to rest and determine if his body was up to the challenge of the FIBA World Championship.

And while this meant Maric came into Boomers camp very late in their preparations, he said he is feeling more ready with every session. It feels better and better each day, he said.

I took a two month break after the season, and when I got into the Boomers camp I found it hard to adjust straight away, getting my touch back and playing five on five basketball, but the last couple of days it has felt good.
Maric played in Australias three games at the Villeurbanne International Tournament in Lyon, France earlier this week, averaging 4ppg and 3rpg, in stark contrast to his lofty production this past European season.

But Maric is confident he can play an important role against Jordan today, a team he said the Boomers know little about. I am just going to try and play a team game. Obviously international basketball is much different from club basketball, and a big thing for me is to rebound to help us get some fast breaks and try to go at them.

We know very little (about Jordan). We watched a tape of their games, we focused on their plays and we know theyre a long shooting team mainly.

The 25 year old from Sydney won a gold medal with Australia at the 2003 FIBA U19 World Championship, and was a key member of the Aussie team that placed fourth at the 2005 U21 FIBA World Championship.

While this was some time ago now, Maric is very much looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Brad Newley, Damian Martin, Steven Markovic and Adam Gibson from those teams.

Its good to be back with the guys again. We go back along way we went to the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) together, we won the gold medal together, some of us were even at college together.

The Boomers start their FIBA World Championship campaign in Kayseri, taking on FIBA Asia Bronze medallist Jordan at 4:30pm local time.

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