With the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup and the Commonwealth Games all fast approaching, Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) will hold a 3×3 National Teams Selection Camp this month to help determine the athletes who make the cut for these high-profile tournaments.
27 athletes – 11 men and 16 women – have been named for the camp by 3×3 Tall Blacks head coach Piet Van Hasselt and 3×3 Tall Ferns head coach Justine Reed, which will be held at Auckland’s Bruce Pulman Arena from 23-25 May. Players are listed below.
The 3×3 Tall Blacks and 3×3 Tall Ferns both have a busy year ahead of them, beginning with the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Belgium from 21-27 June – with New Zealand one of 20 countries competing for the coveted 3×3 World Cup title.
New Zealand will then compete in the 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore on 6-10 July. A fortnight later, both teams will travel to Birmingham, England to take part in the Commonwealth Games – where 3×3 basketball appears for the first time and is set to draw massive international interest.
BBNZ Head of High Performance, Leonard King, says that the excitement levels are high in the 3×3 space.
“There’s no doubt that this is a huge year for 3×3 basketball for New Zealand, with three major tournaments ahead of us,” says King.
“As well as it being a major learning experience for our young athletes on the world stage, there are opportunities for our national teams to be very competitive in these tournaments; as always we’re going in with a mindset to win as many games as we can.”
3×3 Tall Ferns head coach Justine Reed says that she’s impressed with the female players who are in the mix for the squad.
“I think we’re really lucky to have high-calibre players that have made themselves available, very experienced Tall Ferns and some promising up-and-coming players who have been successful in the 5-5 game,” says Reed.
“There’s a good mix of youth and experienced players, so it’s going to give us a great base to choose from. I’m looking forward to working with them and seeing what they can offer.”
3×3 Tall Blacks head coach Piet Van Hasselt says that this month’s camp is a crucial step for the upcoming tournaments for the 3X3 Tall Blacks.
“We have a great group and there will be strong competition to bleed the black and represent New Zealand – the selections will not be easy,” says Van Hasselt.
“This is our second Selection Camp after a group of 25 players assembled in February. The immediate connections between the players and feeling of Maanakitanga helped us establish our culture and evolve the programme quickly; we expect this to amplify in May.”
Van Hasselt says that being able to build a legacy for the 3×3 Tall Blacks and 3×3 Tall Ferns programmes is of utmost importance for the squads at these pinnacle events.
“Having a chance to compete in the inaugural 3X3 event at the Commonwealth Games is a once in a lifetime experience, and all of our players are focussed on helping the team accomplish our goals.”
Following the 3×3 Selection camp next month, six men’s and six women’s players will be named to an extended 3×3 squad list. From these lists, each team will a take a squad of four players to travel to the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
3×3 Selection Camp – Women’s
Akiene-Tera Reed
Chevannah Paalvast
Ella Bradley
Ella Fotu *
Esra McGoldrick
Jacinta Beckley
Jelena Vucinic
Jillian Harmon *
Kalani Purcell
Kendell Heremaia
Lauryn Hippolite
Mary Goulding
Micaela Cocks
Rosalia Samia
Sharne Pupuke-Robati
Stella Beck
Tayla Dalton
Tiarna Clarke
* Unavailable to attend selection camp but remains in contention for team selection
3×3 Selection Camp – Men’s
Brayden Inger
Chris McIntosh
Dan Fotu *
Dom Kelman-Poto
Isaac Davidson
Jayden Bezzant
Max Darling
Nikau McCullough
Richie Rodger
Sam Aruwa
Tai Wynyard
Tom Vodanovich *
Zach Easthope
* Unavailable to attend selection camp but remains in contention for team selection
Upcoming 3×3 National Team Schedule
- 3X3 National Selection camp – 23-25 May, Auckland
- FIBA 3×3 World Cup, 21-26 June, Antwerp, Belgium
- FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, 6-10 July, Singapore
- Commonwealth Games, 23 Jul – 5 Aug, Birmingham, England
