Kiwi under-18 3x3 team on top of the world
New Zealand won the Fiba under18 world 3x3 basketball championship, beating Argentina 20-18 in the final.
The Kiwi men dominated finals day, hammering Russia 21-13 in the quarterfinals and another powerhouse, Spain, 21-8 in the semifinals before accounting for Argentina in a thrilling final played in Hungary on Monday.
Tai Wynyard was named tournament MVP as the Kiwis put the country on the world basketball map yet again, winning the tournament for the second time after the success of the young New Zealanders in 2011.
Coach Anthony Corban was immensely proud of this team.
"The boys have just been amazing and while we are always humble in these moments, we have just dominated the best in the world today.
‘‘We are a big team and today they turned on the style, it looked like it was coming after a great shooting session to get ready this morning and the boys just took it into the games today.
"I am just a small part of this, once the game gets under way I am not allowed to coach, the boys are on their own but their leadership is outstanding.
‘‘We have some pretty good signals going on between me and captain Nikau McCullough – a bit like a baseball coach from the dugout, but the boys have just been superb and Nikau’s captaincy brilliant, he has taken to the task superbly and contributed in a big way to this success.
"Sam [Timmins] is an exciting talent, he is Tall Black material and is already committed to a good University in Washington next year, he has a high basketball IQ and has come out of a really good programme with Mark Dickel, he is one of a special group of players emerging out of our country.
"Tai is perhaps the most relaxed young man I have worked with, off court he is in that space and on court nothing fazes him, Kentucky will be rubbing their hands together, they have a special Kiwi talent coming their way.
‘‘He has developed so well at the Breakers and I know Paul Henare [Tall Blacks coach] will be watching him closely, as he will with Sam.
‘‘Matt [Freeman] has delivered throughout the tournament and in all three games today.
‘‘I chose him as a shooter which raised a few eyebrows but he delivered today in some clutch moments, he too has come out of a very good programme with Westlake Boys."
Corban was also proud of the girls’ team, that finished in the round of 16.