Homecoming looms for Tall Black Rusbatch
Canterbury hoopster Ethan Rusbatch is in the running to achieve one of the proudest moments of his basketball career.
The 26-year-old swingman has been named in a 14-strong Tall Blacks squad for their Fiba World Cup qualifying window home matches against Jordan and Syria.
New Zealand meet Arab nation Jordan at Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena on November 29 – the first time they have played an international in the Garden City since upsetting Australia 80-75 in 2004.
Should Rusbatch make the 12-player gameday squad it would be a memorable occasion for the Cashmere High School old boy, who captained the Canterbury Rams in the National Basketball League (NBL) until shifting to the Bay Hawks this past season.
Three days after playing Jordan, the Tall Blacks, who sit top of their Asian zone second round group, face Syria at Wellington’s TSB Bank Arena on December 2.
Rusbatch has been in and out of the national side since first gaining selection in 2016.
He netted eight points in 10 minutes off the bench in New Zealand’s 107-66 thumping of Syria in Lebanon during the last Fiba World Cup qualifying window in September, but wasn’t selected for the 63-60 home win over Lebanon in Rotorua.
‘‘Ethan has been around the fringes and a big part of the Tall Blacks for a little while now,’’ Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare said. ‘‘He is one of the hardest guys in camp every time. This is reward for him and that hard work over the last couple of years.’’
Other talking points in the Tall Blacks squad include a first time call-up for Brisbane Bullets’ 2.14m centre Tyrell Harrison. The 19-year-old has played six Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) games since debuting last year and was eligible to represent either New Zealand or Australia internationally. Harrison, who has a Kiwi father, hails from Logan in southeast Queensland, and played for Australia at the World University Games last year.
Rosmini College talent and New Zealand Breakers development player Kruz Perrott-Hunt is also in contention for a Tall Blacks debut. Guard PerrottHunt, who turns 18 on November 23, was a shock selection in New Zealand’s 14-man squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong and China in June, but didn’t get on court.