Ngatai all set for call up to Breakers
Jordan Ngatai has been a big mover during the international hoops window, and may continue that ascent when the Breakers announce their final two roster spots for the 2016-17 ANBL season.
The 23-year-old swingman has just completed a standout tour of China with Pero Cameron’s New Zealand Select side and is being tipped to fill the final ‘‘local’’ spot when the Breakers complete the makeup of their squad for the upcoming season.
The Breakers still have a second import (likely to be a power forward) and their 11th roster spot still to announce, and it is expected Ngatai will fill the latter. Under new ANBL regulations, teams can run with up to three restricted players in their expanded fully contracted squads, but the Kiwi outfit is expected to go with just two from the outset of the new season.
That would leave the last roster spot to be filled by a New Zealander and Ngatai, with his improving game, familiarity with the Breakers system and ability to cover the two, three and four spots, shapes as a logical contender.
The Taranaka Mountain Airs forward has been a development player with the Breakers for the last two seasons, but has made a significant step up over the recent international window.
He impressed enough during the Kiwi NBL to make Paul Henare’s extended Tall Blacks squad to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers in Manila, then made the cut for the final group that performed so creditably in the Philippines. Finally, he took his opportunities well for Cameron’s Select team in China, finishing their tour with 17 points in a 72-70 defeat of Cameroon and a teamhigh 15 points in the 73-71 defeat to the an import laden Shenzhen team in Zhangshong.
The Kiwis gave the Chinese club, with four Americans on board, a real run for their money before being pipped at the post to finish the tour with a 1-2 record.
Cameron was more than happy with the effort from his cobbledtogether group in difficult circumstances.
‘‘No one likes losing, and the boys are struggling with that right now. But they can hold their heads up high,’’ he said. ‘‘We took the game into the final seconds and could – maybe should have – won it. But there were some things beyond our control and all I can ask is that the effort was there and that we gave ourselves a shot. This group certainly did that.’’
Cameron said the tour achieved its aim of deepening the talent pool available to the Tall Blacks who are about to head into the Asian zone for Fiba international events.
‘‘This tour was about developing our next level of talent, and exposing players to international basketball and all the pressure that brings. Tonight was perfect in that regard.’’
The tour finale fired up the moment the select team performed their haka for the first time and the New Zealanders made a strong start, leading by one at the end of the first period and by five at halftime.
The game, marred by some curious timing situations, was locked at 56-56 heading into the final period, with the New Zealanders just not able to close it out in a tight finish.
Ngatai led the Kiwi effort with 15 points, while BJ Anthony (14 points) and Derone Raukawa (11) were the other chief contributors.