Tall Blacks win ugly in tight arm wrestle
The Tall Blacks might just have rewritten the book on how to win ugly, after grinding out a 63-60 win over Lebanon to move to the top of Pool E in Fiba World Cup Qualifying, in a game full of character, concentration and focus under intense pressure.
Monday’s win moves the New Zealanders to 7 and 1 and handed Lebanon their second defeat of the qualifying campaign, but it was not one for the fans of flowing offence and high percentage shooting as both sides got locked in an arm wrestle, with the Kiwis proving strongest in the dying moments.
Head coach Paul Henare spoke of his pride in the group at finding a way to get the job done.
“There was a degree of relief at the end of that one, but also a large amount of pride that the boys found a way to win when it looked for most of the game that it wouldnt go our way. That speaks volumes about the character in this group, to continue to stay together during those moments, and focus on each play.
“Credit to Lebanon though, that was not a surprise to us at all. I watched them play China in Beirut and I knew they would fight and be in the battle for a long time, I have nothing but respect for the way they play the game and their contribution to the contest.”
New Zealand started well enough, with no early signs of the shooting troubles that would follow, with Tai Webster, Shea Ili, Rueben Te Rangi, Isaac Fotu and Rob Loe starting for the Tall Blacks, with coach Henare choosing to leave Corey Webster to come off the bench.
But the buckets dried up with New Zealand struggling inside and out, Ater Majok a towering presence in the paint, and Lebanon clearing out to an 18-7 first quarter lead.
The Kiwis responded though, scoring the first 11 points of the second quarter to tie the game up at 18.
■ Tall Blacks 63 (Ili 14, T Webster 13, C Webster 11), Lebanon 60 (Rustom 19). HT: 25-25.