Less than two weeks after putting up a 46-point effort in the NBL for Melbourne United, Chris Goulding took that form with him for the Australian Boomers landing nine three-pointers in Thursday night’s 101-48 win against Thailand.

With NBL25 on hold this week for the FIBA window allowing for the Asia Cup qualifiers to be played, the Boomers travelled to Bangkok first up to take on Thailand in Jacob Chance’s first match in charge as head coach.

The home team came out inspired to perform in front of their excited fans too and by the time Attapong Leelaphipatkul knocked down a three, Thailand were leading 22-15 just before quarter-time.

Australia did score the last five points including a Goulding three ball on the buzzer to close the deficit to two and then the second period started in the same way with Goulding hitting another from long-range.

Then after scores were tied at 27-27, the Boomers blew the game wide open with the game’s next 19 points which included the fifth, sixth and seventh three-point bombs of the half to Goulding.

He went into the break with 21 points on 7/10 shooting from deep for Australia to be leading 50-31 having gone into the half on a 23-4 run.

Goulding then hit an eighth three ball to start the second half, DJ Vasiljevic got in the fun with a couple and by three quarter-time the Boomers were leading 73-40.

Australia outscored Thailand 74 points 21 after scores were tied at 27-27 just 2:30 into the second quarter, and then won by 53 with another 28 points to eight in the final term.

Goulding ended up shooting 9/14 from deep for the Boomers with 27 points while his shooting partner-in-crime Vasiljevic only managed to go 2/9 from long-range, but had 14 points and four assists.

Ben Henshall also had 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, Rocco Zikarsky 11 points and four boards, Davo Hickey six points, five rebounds and three assists, Sam Froling six points and four boards, Jacob Furphy five points and two assists, and Nick Kay four points, four rebounds and four assists.

Brisbane Bullets captain Mitch Norton also had two points and three assists while his teammate Josh Bannan had seven points in just over four minutes before rolling an ankle in the only downside for the Boomers.

There was plenty to like with what Australia did including outrebounding Thailand 50 to 35, forcing them into 22 turnovers and scoring 33 off those, and finishing the game with 25 fast break points to three.

The Boomers will now be again in action on Sunday against Korea in Goyang before the majority of the players return home to prepare for the resumption of NBL25 starting next Thursday night with the Illawarra Hawks at home to the New Zealand Breakers.

Also on Thursday night, the New Zealand Tall Blacks suffered a narrow loss with the Philippines beating them at home 93-89 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It was a New Zealand team full of current or former NBL talent with captain Corey Webster putting up 25 points and five assists on 5/6 three-point shooting.

Cairns Taipans star Sam Waardenburg also had 19 points and seven rebounds with 3/5 three-point shooting with Tom Vodanovich (South East Melbourne Phoenix) adding 19 points on 5/7 from downtown.

Former Adelaide 36ers popular big man Kai Sotto played for the Philippines for 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Korea also defeated Indonesia 86-78 with Illawarra Hawks sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee scoring 12 points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists even with shooting 1/11 from downtown.

FIBA ASIA CUP QUALIFIERS

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 101 (Goulding 27, Vasiljevic 14, Henshall 12)

THAILAND 48 (Lish 11, Jakrawan 9, Breunig 8)

BOX SCORE