Tall Blacks too good for Syria

The Tall Blacks moved to the top of their group in Fiba World Cup Asia qualifying after dominating Syria.

Shea Ili, Isaac Fotu and Jordan Ngatai shared a game-high 16 points, while Tai Webster added 15 points as New Zealand secured a 107-66 road win in Zouk Mikael, near Beirut, Lebanon, where civil war-torn Syria play their home games.

The Tall Blacks – missing two of their best players in Corey Webster and Tom Abercrombie, along with NBA star Steven Adams’ continued decision to make himself unavailable for national team duty – proved too fast and too skilled for Syria, moving a step closer to qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in China.

Syria, who won just two of six games in the first round of Asia qualifying, could not handle the Tall Blacks’ extended pressure and quick hands, which forced 21 turnovers.

Ili and Ngatai both shot 6-of-9 from the field, and Fotu went 5-of-9, while all of Webster’s points came via three-pointers, making 5-of-6.

On an efficient shooting night, the Tall Blacks shot 50 per cent (16-of-32) on three-point attempts and 53.4 per cent from the field as baskets came easy, especially in the third and fourth quarters.

Omar Cheikh Ali led the way for Syria with 16 points, while Tarek Aljabi had 15. The Tall Black managed to hold naturalised American Justin Hawkins to just 11 points.

After the teams exchanged early baskets, a pair of Webster threes, with an Ili pull-up jumper in between, sparked an 8-0 New Zealand run to lead 15-7. The Tall Blacks led 20-12 after the first period.

Ngatai boosted the lead to 10 points, 29-19 at 6:50 in the second quarter before Webster, Ili, Fotu and Rob Loe drained threes to extend the lead. Ili was the first to doubledigits, with 11 points, as the Tall Blacks led 45-26 at halftime.

A sloppy defensive effort from New Zealand saw Syria score easy baskets and remain around 20-25 points behind in the third period.

The fourth quarter was a procession as the likes of Finn Delany, Ethan Rusbatch, Dion Prewster, Jarrod Kenny and Tohi SmithMilner got extended game time.

Next up for the Tall Blacks is a long-haul flight back to New Zealand to face Lebanon on Monday night in Rotorua.

At a glance

Tall Blacks 107

(Isaac Fotu 16, Shea Ili 16, Jordan Ngatai 16, Tai Webster 15) Syria 66 (Omar Cheikh Ali 16, Tarek Aljabi 15, Justin Hawkins 11, Abdulwahad Alhamwi 10). 1Q: 20-12, HT: 45-26, 3Q: 76-45.