World Cup path revealed for Tall Blacks
Paul Henare’s Tall Blacks have been handed a manageable assignment in Asia qualifying zone for the Fiba 2019 Basketball World Cup.
The Tall Blacks and Australia’s Boomers, as the premier teams in the Oceania region, have been included in the Asia zone in a reorganisation of the global basketball qualifying system.
And after the official draw ceremony in Guangzhou, China, on Sunday night (Monday NZ Time) for the qualifiers, the Tall Blacks’ path to the 2019 World Cup in China became clearer.
The New Zealanders have been drawn alongside China, South Korea and Hong Kong in Group A of the first round of Asian zone qualifying.
They will play each side home and away over three designated Fiba ’’windows’’ in November, and February and June of 2018.
New Zealand will open the qualifying stage by hosting South Korea on November 23, travelling straight after to Hong Kong for a November 26 match-up.
In 2018, they will travel to China on February 23 and South Korea on February 26, then close out the first round of qualifying by hosting Hong Kong on June 28 and China on July 1.
The Tall Blacks will also be chasing a medal in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April in a busy calendar year for the team
New Zealand are ranked No 20 on Fiba’s world rankings, China are 14, Korea 30 and Hong Kong at 65.
After the first round of qualifying the top three teams in each group will progress to a second phase that will see 12 nations in two six-team groups compete for Asia’s designated seven spots at the expanded 32-team World Cup. Hosts China qualify automatically.
‘‘The first thing to note is we have been drawn in a very good group,’’ Henare said. ’’China has been the mainstay and powerhouse in Asia for a long time now and that is going to be a good battle against a really tough team.
‘‘We had a five-game series with South Korea in our 2014 buildup and outside of our first game when we got after them in Wellington, the series was a cracker and we had some good games against them.
‘‘Hong Kong are an unknown quality but they have a good pro league and have the population and budget to assemble a competitive team for sure.’’
Henare said the format ensured every game was important.
‘‘Taking as many points as you can to the second stage will help, but this is totally new for everybody. For us and our programme and our team we are focused on each game in each window and making sure we have the best group possible for each game.’’
The designated windows for games will also test player depth, with Henare not able to call on those in the NBA or American college system in-season. There is also some uncertainty over availability out of the top European leagues.
‘‘NBA and the USA college games don’t sit under the Fiba rules where they have to break in those windows, so they are unlikely to be available,’’ added Henare.
‘‘But for the likes of Isaac Fotu and others in Europe I imagine they will have to break (as will the Australian NBL) to allow European players to play for their teams. So I’m hopeful they will be available.’’
Henare said he is in the midst of discussions with key players with the long-term goals in mind.
‘‘We must have an eye on the future and work backwards from the Tokyo Olympics. To have a chance of getting there we must go to the 2019 Fiba World Cup, so for me the start of this year and the Asia Cup is about getting to the Olympics in 2020, and to do that we need the best group of players coming together as often as possible.’’
The Boomers have landed in Group B of World Cup qualifying along with Japan, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.
Group C comprises Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and India, while Iraq, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Iran make up Group D.
The Kiwi basketballers will make their first appearance in their new zone when they take part in the 16-team Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon from August 10-20.