Vukona to miss NZ games

Veteran Tall Black Mika Vukona will sit out the looming World Cup qualifying games in China and Korea in a decision that will allow him to be as fresh as possible for the Breakers’ ANBL playoff run.

Coach Paul Henare yesterday announced a 15-man New Zealand men’s squad that will be trimmed to 12 for the tricky road games in the Fiba Asia qualifying series. As expected, the 35-year-old Vukona has been given the trip off.

The Tall Blacks are otherwise at full strength, with Europe-based trio Corey Webster (Israel), Tai Webster (Germany) and Isaac Fotu (Germany) all included in a group that features eight players from the Breakers setup.

Henare said Vukona’s omission came under recommendation from the Breakers medical team, with the club’s opening NBL semifinal, almost certainly in Melbourne, set to come hard on the heels of the games in Asia.

‘‘The advice on Mika is that he shouldn’t travel and play in these games and has therefore not been released,’’ Henare said. ‘‘He remains an integral part of our group, however.’’

The group will assemble in China on February 20 to begin training for the crucial games against China (February 23 local time) and Korea (February 26) as they continue the pathway towards a place at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The two road games against the group A heavyweights take on extra importance after the Tall Blacks dropped their home opener against Korea in November.