Timmins makes strong NZ squad for Fiba 3x3 World Cup

FORMER Otago Nugget Sam Timmins has been named in a strong New Zealand squad for the Fiba 3x3 World Cup.

Timmins has made himself available during a break from his US College duties and joins Karl Noyer, Aaron BaileyNowell and Everard Bartlett. The tournament is being hosted in the Philippines and starts on Friday afternoon (NZ time).

Noyer, the number one FIBA ranked player in New Zealand, and BaileyNowell are back after finishing fourth at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in China in May this year.

Bartlett joins the squad after suiting up for the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the NBL.

He is also a 3x3 player, having represented New Zealand in 2017 when he was part of the team that won silver at the 3x3 Asia Cup in Mongolia.

Timmins is a former under18 3x3 world champion.

New Zealand is in Pool A along with Romania, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands and defending champions Serbia.

Head coach, Anthony Corban, described it has the ‘‘pool of death’’.

‘‘We will be a team noone will pay attention to, which is great. That’s the way I like it,’’ he said.

‘‘We have to focus on what we can control. Rebounding and defending the twopoint line. Hopefully, we can contain drib ble penetration a little better at this event.’’

The team’s opening game is against Romania on Saturday and it will also play backtoback gold medallists Serbia later in the day.

The games are being livestreamed on the internet.