The 3X3 Tall Blacks team that, along with the 3X3 Tall Ferns, will headline the 3X3 Schick Cup on 14-16 October has been named today by head coach Piet Van Hasselt.
The Kiwi sides will take on their Australian counterparts at the end of each afternoon and evening session at the 3X3 Schick Cup, resulting in a dozen international games of 3X3 basketball being played at Invercargill’s ILT Stadium Southland. This is first time a series like this has taken place in Australasia.
3X3 Tall Blacks Head Coach Piet van Hasselt is delighted the series has been greenlit with the Commonwealth Games on the horizon in 2022.
“To have this opportunity to showcase the 3X3 game in our backyard is invaluable. It gives our players a fantastic chance to taste genuine international competition and put their hands up for Commonwealth Games selection.”
3×3 Tall Blacks
- Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams)
- Alonzo Burton (Southland Sharks)
- Hyrum Harris (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)
- Dom Kelman-Poto (Southland Sharks)
- Taane Samuel (Wellington Saints)
Dom Kelman-Poto, part of the Southland Sharks side that won last year’s 3X3 Schick Cup, says he can’t wait to return to ILT Stadium Southland wearing the black jersey.
“It’s a huge honour to be selected to represent my country. It’ll be a different feeling when we run out through the smoke and fire this year. We know we’ll be representing all of the teams when we take on Australia. I can’t wait.”
Van Hasselt feels the mix of the team is strong to embark on this historic series.
“We have a great blend of size, speed, physicality, and shooting ability. All the guys jumped at the chance to “bleed the black” in 3X3 and have great team-first attitudes. Four were successful in the inaugural 3X3 Schick Cup last year and I’m looking forward to working with them as we prepare for the series. I know the team is excited to be playing at home and alongside our 3X3 Tall Ferns against Australia.”
The 3X3 Tall Ferns team will be named in due course, once the Sky Sport Tall Ferns Asia Cup team has been determined.
The 3X3 Schick Cup, proudly supported by G.J. Gardner Homes and SkyCity, will be broadcast live and exclusively by Sky Sport.
