Rusbatch relishes big test
Ethan Rusbatch has put his hand up to guard the most explosive scorer in New Zealand basketball.
Rusbatch and the Canterbury Rams take on the unbeaten Wellington Saints (18-0) in the first NBL semi-final on Friday night (5pm) in Tauranga.
The Saints have one of the most potent NBL offences in many years with multiple attacking threats, including Tall Blacks guard Corey Webster, a guarantee for league MVP.
Webster is the competition’s leading scorer with 26 points per game and torched the Rams for 25 and 31 points in their first two games this season. A stiff back saw him play just 13 minutes in the Saints’ 102-79 thumping of the Rams when the sides last met in the capital in April.
Rusbatch, one of the Rams’ best defenders, said he was up for the formidable task of trying to contain Webster.
‘‘I like mixing it with the tougher guys, so it’s a good challenge for myself. If I want to move forward I’ve got to guard guys [like that], so I want to take on the challenge.
‘‘You can’t really rest. You try not to let him see a whole lot of space. He’s so good at moving space, I’ve just got to stay on him and make it as tough as I can.’’
The Rams are well aware Wellington have no shortage of weapons at both ends of the floor, as they found out last time when swingman Leon Henry hit 10-14 from three point range in a 34 point haul.
Even Wellington’s second unit presented considerable challenges, Rusbatch said.
‘‘Their bench comes in and they keep up that tempo and the gameplan they like playing. I think if we can make other guys beat us, we might have a shot. It’s going to be tough.’’
Canterbury have underperformed in 2017, stuttering through into fourth place with a 10-8 record in the seventeam league.
Despite the firepower of American guard Jeremy Kendle, Marcel Jones, mid-season addition McKenzie Moore, and a solid support cast in Rusbatch, Marques Whippy, Marcus Alipate and Michael Karena, they have battled for consistency and never really found their rhythm.
Reigning NBL MVP Moore is yet to face the Saints and the Rams hope he’ll be fit enough to make an impact, having missed the past three games with a foot sprain.
Canterbury went just 2-7 against their top four rivals this season, and noone outside the Rams squad has given them a hope of stunning the Saints.
Rusbatch wasn’t concerned and said in a one-off game anything could happen.
‘‘We’ve got plenty more to give. It’s all timing. It only takes one game. If we can perform at the right time that might be all we need.’’
Cashmere High School product Rusbatch is the only player to have spent all four seasons with the Rams since they rejoined the NBL in 2014, following the earthquakes.
Rusbatch, who was named in the Tall Blacks for the first time last year, has averaged 12.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16 games this season.
After the Final Four weekend, Rusbatch heads to China on Tuesday for a 12-day tour with the New Zealand Select team, who will be coached by Tall Blacks and Breakers coach Paul Henare.
Rusbatch was a development member for the Breakers this past season, but said Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) interest had been ‘‘pretty quiet’’. The 25-year-old is too old for a development spot this season and is aiming for a full-time contract somewhere.