Tall Blacks lose again

Pero Cameron’s peek at his Tall Blacks depth proved fruitless and a little frustrating in a tough Fiba World Cup qualifying double-header in the Middle East. The New Zealanders, who had already clinched a spot at next year’s World Cup with a 6-0 record in Group E, followed Friday’s 77-65 loss to Lebanon with an even more dispiriting 17-point (92-75) loss to Jordan in Amman yesterday to wrap up the November Fiba window. Cameron took a severely understrength squad north for the doubleheader, missing most of his heavy hitters who were either otherwise engaged with their pro teams or resting up in the break for international play, and they proved short of the mark.

Ethan Rusbatch puts up a shot in the Tall Blacks’ World Cup qualifying loss to Jordan .