2009 FIBA Oceania Championships

[donmar]

Last quarter costs Tall Blacks

By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz

The Tall Blacks had the Boomers in a world of hurt with one quarter remaining of last night's Oceania Championship clash in Sydney. The only problem was they forgot to finish the job off.

To their credit the Australians were good enough to stare down a three-point deficit (61-64) at the end of the third quarter and hold their nerve when it counted to put the gritty Kiwis away 84-77, winning the final period 23-13.

Expected to be cannon-fodder, the undermanned and inexperienced Tall Blacks went close to firing a shot heard round the basketball world as they pushed the Australians to the limit in game one of this series that will round out in Wellington on Tuesday night.

Heading in for the final quarter, the New Zealanders had their chance. But with tiring legs and cooling shooting hands stalling the Kiwi challenge over the run home, the Australians stepped up to seal the deal. They still needed a fabulous offensive showing from NBA hopeful Joe Ingles to get them home.

Ingles had been well contained by the New Zealanders after a hot opening period, but he poured in 10 straight points in the final quarter as he caught fire right when his team needed it most. On the back of that the Boomers turned a three-point deficit into a nine-point advantage and coasted to victory.

Ingles finished with a game-high 26 points (9/14 FG, 4/7 3pt) and Dallas Maverick Nathan Jawai also showed his class for the Boomers with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

But the Tall Blacks showed plenty in this match, and got big games out of young centre Alex Pledger (16 points, six boards) and point guard Linsday Tait (12 points, four assists) as well as the usual quality offensive display from Kirk Penney who had 23 points (8/19FG, 3/6 3pt) despite some extremely close defensive attention from the Aussies.

The undersized New Zealanders actually outrebounded the Boomers 45-31, but were held to just 39 per cent from the floor (28/72 FG) and also had 16 turnovers overall, some of which cost them dearly down the stretch. Mika Vukona (seven points, 10 rebounds) and BJ Anthony (six points, seven boards) also contributed handily for the Tall Blacks.

At three up, and with the Aussies struggling early in the final quarter the New Zealanders had their chance. But they went cold just at the wrong time as the Boomers went on an Ingles-fuelled 14-2 run to open the last stanza. And with that the chance of the upset was gone.

The New Zealanders played a fabulous first half to trail the Boomers by just a single point, 42-43, at the major break.

The Kiwis scrapped and scraped and basically did what they had to in order to stay in the game.

It looked ominous in the latter stages of the second quarter when the Boomers stretched the lead to double-figures, but Vucinics men stuck to their task and made the big shots down the stretch to whittle the lead all the way down to just a single point.

In the end, though, the game Tall Blacks paid the price for not closing out this match. As they will realise, three strong quarters is one too few at this level of the game.

Australia 84 (Joe Ingles 26, Nathan Jawai 17, Brad Newley 13), New Zealand 77 (Kirk Penney 23, Alex Pledger 16, Lindsay Tait 12). 1q: 25-21; ht: 43-42; 3q: 61-64.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketb...ts-Tall-Blacks

[Saskibaloia]

Trans-Tasman rivalry has Penney pumped

NBL.com.au

Trans-Tasman rivalry has Penney pumped

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 1:21 PM
By Marc Hinton - Sunday News

Don't try and tell Kirk Penney that it's a "dead series" looming against Australia's Boomers. There's no such thing when it comes to the Tall Blacks taking on the old enemy across the ditch.

Penney and his New Zealand men's side will meet Australia in two trans-Tasman tests, next Sunday in Sydney and then the following Tuesday back in Wellington.

The series is billed as a world championships qualifier, but both teams will head to next year's global tournament in Turkey, with only the Oceania region's seedings at stake.

But if you think that takes the edge off the series, then Penney has a message for you.

"The reward is in a lot of ways already there... But I don't think there's a Kiwi out there who doesn't love to go against Australia, and it's the same for Australia when they play against New Zealand," says the Kiwi sharpshooter who will be No 1 on the Boomers' list of defensive assignments.

"It's always a fun battle and then some years it moves past that and becomes quite an intense battle."

The Tall Blacks have had their successes against the Boomers in recent years, knocking the Australians off once in 2007 and twice in 2006 when they won the Ramsay Shield. Of course back in 2001 they famously beat them in a series for the first time to earn passage to the world championships in Indianapolis.

But right now the Tall Blacks are in rebuilding mode, with only Penney and - injury permitting - Pero Cameron remaining from the "golden" era. The recent tour to Europe - a trip that Cameron and star forward Craig Bradshaw both missed - demonstrated that palpably, with the Kiwis going 2-6 and finding the going tough against largely mid-level opposition.

But Penney is adamant the Tall Blacks have a heartbeat going into the Australian tests, and with the possibility of both Cameron and Bradshaw returning to boost the offensive firepower, he believes it's anyone's series going in.

"Both teams are young, and both are going through a transitional period," says Penney. "The other thing is it's an off-year -- not an Olympics or world championships year -- so Australia don't have all their best players available.

"Of course there's a belief there. The tour helped us come together and understand if we play with effort and come together like every Tall Black team has in the past we give ourselves a chance."

Penney is hoping Cameron, who's looking to shake off a bothersome ankle injury, and Bradshaw, in the process of sorting out his employment for the looming season, will both be on board for the series.

"That would be huge. Pero brings leadership and experience and everyone who's ever played with him knows how much he helps the team. And with Craig it's just having another big who can rebound and contribute inside. He's one of the talents of New Zealand basketball, and if he can come in and help it would be fantastic."

Penney is figuring on having Bradshaw alongside him to battle the Aussies, but with Cameron it's touch and go as the big man looks to get himself fit for the looming NBL season.

Whoever's there, the Boomers will know the key to containing the Tall Blacks will be in keeping Penney under wraps as best they can...

NZ Breakers and Boomers forward Oscar Forman, who's cemented a place in the Australian lineup this season, confirms this: "Everyone knows what sort of player he is, so there's a huge emphasis on trying to shut him down.

"Just the way Kirk's been playing, he's a weapon and you've got to stop him. But it's not just him. If you focus too much on him they've got other guys that can hurt you.

"They're the sort of team that if you don't bring it you're going to be in trouble. We've got to make sure we get on them early and pound it inside because we've got some good big guys and that will be our advantage."

Penney is counting on his young team-mates having soaked up their recent European experience, and being the better for it. On them making a big step up for the Australians.

You know that the world-class shooting guard will be ready. The unknown is whether his team-mates have the ability to go with him.

Penney, meanwhile, says the Breakers are shaping well for the approaching NBL season after they took care of business last week in their three-game series against the touring AIA American college outfit.

"There's a really good feel. I think everyone coming back is so good. Everyone's on the same page already. It was the same last year when we had that great start and led the league. That's what we need again this year and then just follow it through a bit better.

"It's looking good and there still a piece to come in which will be a very important piece. It's exciting."

Tickets to Game One of the FIBA Oceania series are now available through Ticketek.

[donmar]

You guys will probably hate me for this but...

For a region that has had only the same two teams competing since right before the 2000 Olympics (when Australia automatically qualified and and didn't partake in the 1999 championships, wasn't it Guam or someone that got the silver?) should't FIBA do something about it's number of bids? These two teams are guaranteed to get in regardless of who beats the other and giving them automatic entries into the world tournament is depriving another nation in the world who may be more deserving and better than Australia or NZ. Sure there is a rivalry between the Aussies and Kiwis but in the end it boils down only to those who care within these two countries and it adversely affects the overall selection of teams that get into the World Championships. A region with two teams competiting gets two guaranteed bids while a region such as Asia gets only 3 bids, or America 4 bids with many many more teams competiting.

Also shouldn't this be a 3-game series if there is going to be little series played at all considering if each team won 1 game in the two game series and the point differentials were the same, how would they determine the seedings for the Turkey then? Btw shame Brook Ruscoe didn't get on the Senior NZ team, kid has talent.

Don't worry.. we won't hate you... actually a lot of people keep bringing the same thing and a lot of people even recommend to merge FIBA Oceania with FIBA Asia in order to increase the number of spots for the Asian region in the World Championship and the Olympics... but what I see, Australia will dominate the competition with New Zealand and Yao Ming-led China battling for second... so if the two zones combine that would bring to five automatic entries... so basically, the last two spots are up for grabs... so nothing change other than the numbers of top team to beat..

It supposed to be 3-game series but I'm guessing because of economic recession and yeah, both already qualified... plus, Australia's basketball federation has management problem, at the moment, concerning the Australian NBL...

But the merger of two zones might happen sooner than we think... the current FIBA President is an Australian and advocated for the merger of the two zones at the time when he run for the current position he occupies... buut it seems he ain't doing anything at the moment...

Yeah its a shame Ruscoe can't join... I already counted out New Zealand in this tourney, I think Australia will sweep this one eventhough NZ has the ANBL MVP (but since his Breakers coach was OZ's assistant coach.. I got a feeling they can shutdown Kirk Penney)... I usually supports the Tall Blacks but I like both teams since I'm quite familiar of some of their players... I'm hoping for a three-point battle between Oscar Forman and Kirk Penney....

[Saskibaloia]

You guys will probably hate me for this but...

For a region that has had only the same two teams competing since right before the 2000 Olympics (when Australia automatically qualified and and didn't partake in the 1999 championships, wasn't it Guam or someone that got the silver?) should't FIBA do something about it's number of bids? These two teams are guaranteed to get in regardless of who beats the other and giving them automatic entries into the world tournament is depriving another nation in the world who may be more deserving and better than Australia or NZ. Sure there is a rivalry between the Aussies and Kiwis but in the end it boils down only to those who care within these two countries and it adversely affects the overall selection of teams that get into the World Championships. A region with two teams competiting gets two guaranteed bids while a region such as Asia gets only 3 bids, or America 4 bids with many many more teams competiting.

Also shouldn't this be a 3-game series if there is going to be little series played at all considering if each team won 1 game in the two game series and the point differentials were the same, how would they determine the seedings for the Turkey then? Btw shame Brook Ruscoe didn't get on the Senior NZ team, kid has talent.

I can definitely see where you're coming from. When FIBA Oceania received 2 automatic bids after the Tall Blacks' 2002 4th place finish in the 2002 World Championships, I was quite surprised however, FIBA felt that due to the excellent performance of the Tall Blacks both Australia and it's neighbour deserved to be in the World Championships.

In my opinion, only one should have the automatic spot while the other plays against the 3rd place in Asia for a spot.

[jxuusa]

You guys will probably hate me for this but...

For a region that has had only the same two teams competing since right before the 2000 Olympics (when Australia automatically qualified and and didn't partake in the 1999 championships, wasn't it Guam or someone that got the silver?) should't FIBA do something about it's number of bids? These two teams are guaranteed to get in regardless of who beats the other and giving them automatic entries into the world tournament is depriving another nation in the world who may be more deserving and better than Australia or NZ. Sure there is a rivalry between the Aussies and Kiwis but in the end it boils down only to those who care within these two countries and it adversely affects the overall selection of teams that get into the World Championships. A region with two teams competiting gets two guaranteed bids while a region such as Asia gets only 3 bids, or America 4 bids with many many more teams competiting.

Also shouldn't this be a 3-game series if there is going to be little series played at all considering if each team won 1 game in the two game series and the point differentials were the same, how would they determine the seedings for the Turkey then? Btw shame Brook Ruscoe didn't get on the Senior NZ team, kid has talent.

[donmar]

I'm sure they'll eventually break in. The NRL used to have an immense pool of talent to choose from however, rugby union have been tapping into the pool heavily especially with their marketing tool that rugby union has greater international exposure (which is true) and that the game is growing overseas and in Oceania.

here in New Zealand, rugby league is quite popular in junior level... most of the rugby league players usually moves to Auckland or to Australia once they finish high school in order to get exposure... rugby doesn't have to since well its New Zealand... rugby league is still organizing... especially in the international side of the game... like the World Cup took them 8 years before they could have another one...

[Saskibaloia]

Tall Blacks Squad

NBL.com.au

Tall Blacks name team for Sunday clash with Boomers
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 3:08 PM

The inclusion of Harbour Heat NZNBL forward BJ Anthony is the only change to the New Zealand Tall Blacks team ahead of next week’s FIBA Oceania Championship against the Australian Boomers.

Anthony, the son of former NZNBL legend Benny Anthony, will become the fifth rookie to pull on a Tall Blacks uniform in 2009.

The 21-year-old comes into third-year coach Nenad Vucinic’s team for the two-game Oceania series with Jeremiah Trueman unavailable from the Tall Blacks’ European tour.

Long-time Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron and forward Craig Bradshaw were both ruled out of selection.

Cameron has been unable to recover sufficiently from a persistent ankle injury, while Bradshaw departed on Sunday for South Korea, where he has taken up a contract in the Korean Basketball League. Trueman heads to San Diego this week to be with his wife Mary for the birth of their first child.

“In terms of international experience, especially in leading roles, it’s a pretty young squad,” said Vucinic.

“Not having Pero or Craig is disappointing. We had a good tour of Europe without them and were happy with what we achieved. We competed well against some tough teams.

“BJ had a good trial and reports about his change in attitude around training have been positive and he deserves his chance . . . Jeremiah has decided that he needs to go back to the States for the birth of his first child and we respect that.”

Shooting guard Kirk Penney, who led the team in Cameron’s absence on the eight-game European sojourn, will take the captain’s ‘C’ again, joined by point guard Lindsay Tait and forwards Mika Vukona and Casey Frank in the experienced heart of the roster.

Combo guards Michael Fitchett and Corey Webster, and centre Alex Pledger also have at least two national team tours behind them.

Anthony joins Tom Abercrombie, Leon Henry, Jarrod Kenny and Junior Tall Black Rob Loe as 2009 rookies for the Tall Blacks team, which has an average age of 24.

“I’m just really excited to get back into the team and to go to work,” said Anthony, who played professionally in the German second division last northern hemisphere winter.

“Honestly, I thought my chance had gone this year. I was just getting ready to go back to Germany again and then come back and push harder next year. It’s great to get the chance this year and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Tall Blacks assemble in Wellington for a four-day camp before heading to Sydney, ahead of game one at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre at 6pm (Sydney time) on Sunday.

The team returns to New Zealand on Monday, with Game Two at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington on Tuesday, August 25 at 7.30pm.

Tickets to Game One of the FIBA Oceania series are now available through Ticketek.

New Zealand Tall Blacks

Tom Abercrombie, BJ Anthony, Michael Fitchett, Casey Frank, Leon Henry, Jarrod Kenny, Rob Loe, Kirk Penney (captain), Alex Pledger, Lindsay Tait, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster

Head coach: Nenad Vucinic
Assistant coach: Chris Tupu
Video technician: Dillon Boucher
Manager: Grant Chapman
Physio: Bryce Ebben

Tall Blacks Schedule
Tuesday, August 18
Team assembles for camp in Wellington

Friday, August 21
Team travels to Sydney

Sunday, August 23
FIBA Oceania Championship for Men, Game 1
vs Australia Boomers, 8pm (NZ time)
Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
Live on Sky Sport 1

Monday, August 24
Team travels to Wellington

Tuesday, August 25
FIBA Oceania Champion for Men, Game 2
vs Australia Boomers, 7.30pm
TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Live on Sky Sport 2 (HD)

[Saskibaloia]

BTW, I got three high school friends who are currently playing in Australia in the semi-pro rugby league circuit at the moment.. they're waiting for a breakthrough to enter and join NRL...

I'm sure they'll eventually break in. The NRL used to have an immense pool of talent to choose from however, rugby union have been tapping into the pool heavily especially with their marketing tool that rugby union has greater international exposure (which is true) and that the game is growing overseas and in Oceania.

[donmar]

He's probably the bloke trying to get my mate to switch from semi-pro rugby league over to play rugby union for the Philippines

My mate's actually really considering it because the beauty of playing for one's own country and to be able to travel the region to play sport. AIN'T THAT GOLD!!!!

Yeah thats him... about 3/4 of the players of the national team are recruited by him... he's a good guy and constantly looking for Filipinos or half-breeds playing rugby to recruit... and so far, he's doing an excellent job...

I think your friend should consider it... but I don't think its a professional but rather just play for flag and country.. so I guess, he can still play rugby league in the semi-pro circuit while playing union internationally... its should be easy to adjust...

BTW, I got three high school friends who are currently playing in Australia in the semi-pro rugby league circuit at the moment.. they're waiting for a breakthrough to enter and join NRL...

[Saskibaloia]

hehehe I think we should... I assume you know Erick Elefante... he is one of PRFU's leading recruiters of players from Australia and New Zealand... he is based in Australia too..

He's probably the bloke trying to get my mate to switch from semi-pro rugby league over to play rugby union for the Philippines

My mate's actually really considering it because the beauty of playing for one's own country and to be able to travel the region to play sport. AIN'T THAT GOLD!!!!

[kerdito]

I wish Patrick Mills would play in the 2 game series this guy is really superb!!!!

[donmar]

Robbie Deans is a legend!!!

Let's start up a rugby thread

GO PHILIPPINE VOLCANOES!!!

www.prfu.com

hehehe I think we should... I assume you know Erick Elefante... he is one of PRFU's leading recruiters of players from Australia and New Zealand... he is based in Australia too..

[Saskibaloia]

IMO, New Zealand's best rugby coach is currently Australia's head coach... some people here in Canterbury are actually supporting the Aussies (usually support the Wallabies in the first test but after that they return to support the All Blacks for the next two tests) simply because of Robbie Deans...

Robbie Deans is a legend!!!

Let's start up a rugby thread

GO PHILIPPINE VOLCANOES!!!

https://www.prfu.com

[donmar]

I'll second that. However, if the French Basketball Federation put more support to their French outpost (New Caledonia) I am confident that eventually they would be competitive. I still remember back in 2003 or 2004 there were 5 or so New Caledonians playing in the lower French basketball leagues all of whom were eligible to compete for New Caledonia since one of their parents were born or originated from there according to oceaniabasket.com (Oceania branch of Eurobasket.com)

In my opinion, the lower French league as many of you would know are quite competitive though not as good as the Australian NBL but I'm confident maybe as good as the New Zealand NBL (feel free to correct me donmar). Therefore, if the New Caledonians had fielded a team back then, maybe a few surprises MIGHT have occured.

However, currently basketball according to oceaniabasket.com is still struggling in New Caledonia as football is still king followed by cricket and ruguby as well as other sports.

Hopefully, basketball will grow in New Caledonia or in any country in the region in order for a stronger FIBA Oceania.

I don't know much about French leagues... New Zealand NBL. on the other hand, is kinda improving because aside from the Kiwi NBL players and American Imports, some Australian NBL players who did not go to play in Europe for the off-season crosses the ditch and played here... it sort of started two years ago by about a couple of Aussies (one of them is Luke Martin), then last year about 3-5 of them (including Adam Bellenger) and now, theres about more than 5 Aussies and it help raise the quality of the league.. but it still not as competitive as the Australian NBL, who not also got players coming back from the New Zealand NBL but also coming back from Europe and those upcoming stars from the United States' colleges and development leagues...

Ain’t we lucky

hehehe yes we are

This rivalry is definitely intense. Whenever an Australian team looses to any Kiwi (New Zealand) team of any sporting code, those blokes or sheilas (guys or girls in Australian English) are put to shame! It is okay for us Aussies to loose to the South Africans but NEVER to the Kiwis! Thus, in 2001 FIBA Oceania series when the Aussies lost to the Tall Blacks for the very first time, the coach (Phil Smyth) was fired immediately. However, if there were an Aussie, a Kiwi and a group of Yanks or Poms in a pub (bar) you’d bet that the Aussie and Kiwi would be more than happy to watch each other’s back. It’s a love-hate relationship.

Well said bro... agree to that... love-hate relationship between the two really helps improve and maintain the Trans-Tasman rivalry...

IMO, New Zealand's best rugby coach is currently Australia's head coach... some people here in Canterbury are actually supporting the Aussies (usually support the Wallabies in the first test but after that they return to support the All Blacks for the next two tests) simply because of Robbie Deans...

[Saskibaloia]

Small countries in Oceania just doesn't have the financial capabilities to maintain their national basketball teams.. and most of the Pacific Island countries prefer football (Solomon Islands) or rugby league (Papua New Guinea) or rugby union (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga) than basketball... and I think FIBA doesn't see any financial benefits from those countries... so they're pretty much content of Australia and New Zealand as the only competitors in Oceania...

I'll second that. However, if the French Basketball Federation put more support to their French outpost (New Caledonia) I am confident that eventually they would be competitive. I still remember back in 2003 or 2004 there were 5 or so New Caledonians playing in the lower French basketball leagues all of whom were eligible to compete for New Caledonia since one of their parents were born or originated from there according to oceaniabasket.com (Oceania branch of Eurobasket.com)

In my opinion, the lower French league as many of you would know are quite competitive though not as good as the Australian NBL but I'm confident maybe as good as the New Zealand NBL (feel free to correct me donmar). Therefore, if the New Caledonians had fielded a team back then, maybe a few surprises MIGHT have occured.

However, currently basketball according to oceaniabasket.com is still struggling in New Caledonia as football is still king followed by cricket and ruguby as well as other sports.

Hopefully, basketball will grow in New Caledonia or in any country in the region in order for a stronger FIBA Oceania.

Yup only Australia and New Zealand in a two-game series...

Ain’t we lucky

This championship is just for the seeding for next year's World Championship... since both already qualified... but this is not about next year's World Champs... its about the Trans-Tasman rivalry between the Aussies and the Kiwis... regardless of sports codes... these two countries will fight for pride and Trans-Tasman superiority...

This rivalry is definitely intense. Whenever an Australian team looses to any Kiwi (New Zealand) team of any sporting code, those blokes or sheilas (guys or girls in Australian English) are put to shame! It is okay for us Aussies to loose to the South Africans but NEVER to the Kiwis! Thus, in 2001 FIBA Oceania series when the Aussies lost to the Tall Blacks for the very first time, the coach (Phil Smyth) was fired immediately. However, if there were an Aussie, a Kiwi and a group of Yanks or Poms in a pub (bar) you’d bet that the Aussie and Kiwi would be more than happy to watch each other’s back. It’s a love-hate relationship.

Australia is the favourites in my opinion... with NBL calibers in their line-up but the Kiwis has the NBL MVP... either way, I got no problem who finish on top... I'm a big fan of the NBL and this is pretty much an all-star game for me...

On top of that some of the Aussies in the squad are playing overseas as well.