Tall Blacks prove too classy for Hong Kong

The New Zealand Tall Blacks had seven different players score in double digits as they recorded their first win in Fiba World Cup Asian zone qualifying yesterday.

Led by 18 points from forward Jordan Ngatai and 16 points from swingman Reuben Te Rangi, the Tall Blacks defeated minnows Hong Kong 133-74 in Hong Kong.

Shea Ili, Isaac Fotu, Alex Pledger, Corey Webster and Finn Delany also scored 10 points or more as Paul Henare’s squad shot 51-of-75 (68 per cent) and 20-of-32 (62.5 per cent) on three-point attempts against the overmatched Hong Kong team.

With the Tall Blacks up 71-40 at halftime, coach Henare spread the minutes around, with all 12 players getting at least 13 minutes of game time (shooting guard Webster the lowest at 13:01) and at least six points.

The Tall Blacks opened their qualifying campaign with an 86-80 loss to South Korea in Wellington on Thursday night. South Korea fell to China 92-81 in Goyang earlier on Sunday.

The bench, led by Ngatai (7/11

FG, 4/6 3pt) and Te Rangi (6/10 FG, 4/6 3pt), scored 81 of New Zealand’s 133 points. Te Rangi added six rebounds, three assists and three steals to his stat-line, while Tai Webster had a team-high nine assists, Ili had eight assists and five rebounds with his 14 points and Rob Loe had six boards along with eight points.

The stats were all good reading for New Zealand, out-rebounding Hong Kong 43-24, including 11 offensive boards, dominating in points in the paint 52-28, forcing 14 turnovers and combining for six blocks.

Now the Tall Blacks return to their clubs in New Zealand, Australia and Europe, with the next Asian zone qualifying window February 22-26, 2018, on the road against China and South Korea.