Tears flow as Opals steamroll into semis in huge boilover

by Admin
August 7, 2024

Tears flowed from players on both teams as the Opals thrashed Serbia 85-67 in their quarter-final bout to put them into the medal rounds.

It was all Australia’s way from the opening minutes, as they restricted Serbia at the basket, forcing them into turnovers eight times in the opening half.

From there, the floodgates opened, as Jade Melbourne, Alannah Smith and Cayla George starred in a warning shot to their rivals for podium positions.

LIVE UPDATES: Follow all the action from day 12

Australia are now into the final four, meaning they’re guaranteed to play for a medal.

It’s a strong comeback from their disappointing Tokyo 2020 campaign that saw the Opals bundled out of the quarter-finals at the hands of the USA, coming home without a medal.

Australia celebrates after Serbia called a time out during a women’s quarter-final game at Bercy Arena. Mark J. Terrill via AP

An emotional George, who scored 18 in the win for Australia, says the heartbreaks from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, have motivated the group to strive for a maiden gold medal.

“The last couple of Olympics, in Rio (2016), they (Serbia) got us in the quarter-final. In Tokyo (2020), it was just the campaign it was,” she said on Nine post-win.

George then became emotional as she reflected on the journey.

“To make it through to the semis, it’s just an unreal feeling. I didn’t realise I was going to get emotional,” she said, holding back tears as she spoke with Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze.

“I’m so stoked for these girls, the sisterhood is a real thing.”

The Opals campaign at Paris 2024 didn’t start all that easy, though.

An opening match loss to Nigeria rocked the foundation, but, inside the four walls, was the exact motivation the side needed to capitalise on a chance that only comes around every four years.

The Opals celebrate as Serbia commiserate after their Olympic Games quarter-final. Nine

“We copped the loss and it hurt, it hurt real bad. We were humiliated,” George said.

“To come back and bounce back, we’re a resilient mob.”

The Opals face the winner of USA or Nigeria in their semi-final.

“A lot of our group play over in the States (USA) and have experience in the States. So I’m pretty confident whoever we match up with, they’ll have to guard us too,” George said.

If the Opals win their upcoming semi-final, they’ll play for a shot at their first-ever gold medal.

But, if they lose that match, they’ll play off for a bronze.

The Opals have already won three silver medals (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) and two bronze (Atlanta 1996 and London 2012).