The Tall Blacks defeated Chinese Taipei 81-64 at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch on Monday night in a FIBA Asia Cup qualifier, thanks to superb first and fourth quarters, in what was at times a dour defensive arm wrestle.
The Tall Blacks stormed home in the final quarter though, allowing a large and boisterous home crowd to enjoy the final moments in a rare game in Christchurch for the New Zealand men’s side, earning a victory that books them a spot at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia with two qualifying games still to play.
Head Coach Judd Flavell was proud of his young side in how they found a way to win, bossing the boards and winning the physical battle on a tough shooting night.
“We had some great looks form the outside, but it was a cold night for us, we shot the ball really well in the Philippines but that is what can happen in basketball, so we have to make sure we are on point with everything else on those nights,” said Flavell soon after being drenched in water by his celebratory young team on arrival back at the changing rooms.
“I said to the group, we got the job done on the defensive end, we did a fantastic job making it tough on them, we kept them to zero offensive rebounds until the fourth quarter. So our defence was great, a lot to like there.
“We have to give Chinese Taipei credit on the defensive end, they forced us out of our rhythm and in that space there, we weren’t quite on the front foot as we would have liked, that is something for us to get used to with the Asian teams and the defensive pressure they apply, but these are good lessons to learn going forward.”
Sam Waardenburg played a starring role on a tough night, in just his third appearance for the Tall Blacks, but he left no doubt of his intentions to pull on the black singlet regularly in the future if called upon.
“I have loved being able to work with Judd and all he is implementing into the Tall Blacks culture. The offence is really fun for someone like me, I can rebound it push it out, a lot of pick and pop action as well – so I have a lot of fun in this action.
“But the whole culture, just being part of it, I haven’t been part of it too much before, so being in a full window and getting a feel for it and the travel, I have had a blast, it has been great.”
Both teams started nervously, the Tall Blacks missing their first 6 looks at the basket and a couple of free throws before Walter Brown opened the scoring with two from the charity stripe with almost three minutes played.
The home side then started to find their range, led by Shea Ili and Izayah Le’afa from the bench with 3 triples in quick succession, but Chinese Taipei continued to struggle, shooting 21% from the floor as the Tall Blacks ended the first quarter with a 23-6 lead.
There were personal milestones on the night, 17-year-old Oscar Goodman took to the floor for the first time in a Tall Blacks singlet, coming into the game late in the first quarter, in the process becoming the 9th youngest player to earn that honour at 17 years and 293 days.
Kaia Isaac quickly followed Goodman as a first time Tall Black, as the NZ Breakers guard entered the fray early in the second and made his presence felt with a weak side rebound and lay-up, and 18 year old Carter Hopoi got his first taste at this level as Judd Flavell went deep into his roster in the second of two games and extensive travel from the Philippines.
Chinese Taipei lifted their defensive intensity early in the second quarter, helped by the significant presence of 7-foot naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck, the rim protection provided by the former American was changing shots and keeping the Tall Blacks out of the paint.
With captain Corey Webster not given any room outside the arc, it fell to Le’afa from outside and Hyrum Harris in the paint to take on the scoring burden for the Tall Blacks, but the second quarter was all the visitors, winning it by 12 to close the gap to just five points at the main break.
Poor offence was to blame for the home side, shooting just 12 of 41 from the floor, including an ice cold 4 of 20 from deep. 7 first half turnovers didn’t help the cause either, as the New Zealanders allowed Chinese Taipei back into a game they might otherwise have been shut out of.
While the offence continued to struggle, the Tall Blacks rolled up their sleeves and played better defence in the third as the two teams went toe to toe, if not bucket for bucket in a 15 points apiece quarter of basketball, New Zealand led 42-37 with ten minutes to play.
Fouls were playing a part as Chinese Taipei continued to hack the New Zealanders, constantly putting the Tall Blacks to the line with Gilbeck taking a seat early in the final quarter with his fourth personal. Shea Ili and Tom Vodanovich did not need a second invitation as the two experienced players drove to the rim, with a Waardenburg dunk extending the lead to 12 and forcing Coach Gianluca Tucci to call time out.
It was to no avail though as the Tall Blacks had the sleeves well and truly rolled up and put the game to bed, shutting down the Chinese Taipei offence and on the back of some inspired play by Ili and Waardenburg extended to 17, allowing Judd Flavell the luxury of rolling his bench.
On a night not made for outside shooting, best for the Tall Blacks were Waardenburg (16 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists), Shea Ili (12 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists), Tom Vodanovich (11 points, 5 rebounds) and Hyrum Harris (9 points, 13 rebounds), in what was an effort by committee with New Zealand winning the rebound count 57-35.
In a game made for rolling the sleeves up and going into some dark places, Flavell was asked about key performers for his team on the night.
On Hyrum Harris: “This is the type of game he gets up for, but I think we can make him look even better offensively because he gets by his guy and is looking for passes. That will come as we spend more time together.
“But his impact defensively – a loose ball he is first on the floor and just creating that energy that has to be there for us every single game. In moments like that he is someone that thrives in that atmosphere.”
On Shea Ili: “He showed he could deal with that pressure once he got comfortable in the game – remember he has only had two days with us. But he was able to get by his defender, with his speed and downhill athletic ability he could get to the basket and make some of those players – that relieves some of that ball pressure.”
On debuts for Oscar Goodman (17 years), Carter Hopoi (18 years) and Kaia Issac (21 years):
“Oscar was surprised when I made the call, but we see a huge future for him, he is a great talent. Part of the Tall Blacks culture is integrating those guys nice and early. He has looked great in practices, very switched on and is a kid with a bright future and is hopefully going to be part of the Tall Blacks culture for a very long time.”
“Carter just arrived yesterday, same thing – the call came out of the blue for him. But he is another one I have been keeping an eye on for the last couple of years. As we do with Tall Blacks, these young talented players are the ones we want to fast track and speed up their development, they are going to play key roles going forward and I am really happy with how they came in.”
“Kaia Isaac I have had a coach-player relationship with for the last three years, he is someone I felt very comfortable with and could have put him in earlier in the game but we have depth with our guard rotation. He deserves to be a Tall Black, he embodies everything we are trying to build and is another one we want to keep a close eye on.”
The New Zealanders now go into hiatus until the final qualifying window for the FIBA Asia Cup, with a much-anticipated return clash with Philippines in February and a road trip to Hong Kong to round out their qualification programme and decide final seedings ahead of the event in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
Flavell said they have a long-term goal in mind as well as keeping their eye on the short-term objectives.
“Part of these windows going forward is building towards the 2028 Olympics in LA. We make no bones about what our goal is but along the way respect what we have in front of us, and everyone one of these players is going to play a key role in all that planning.”
New Zealand 81 Waardenburg 16 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists; Ili 12 points, 8 assists; Vodanovich 11 points; Harris 13 rebounds.
Chinese Taipei 64 Gadiaga 14 pts, Chun Hsiang Lu 12 pts, Ying-Chun Chen 12 pts
Press Conference featuring Judd Flavell and Sam Waardenburg CLICK HERE
Tall Blacks Schedule – Asia Cup Qualifiers 2025
22 Feb 2024 – NZL vs Chinese Taipei (away): WON 89-69
25 Feb 2024 – NZL vs Hong Kong (Auckland): WON 88-49
21 Nov 2024 – NZL vs Philippines (away): LOST 89-93
25 Nov 2024 – NZL vs Chinese Taipei (Christchurch): WON 81-64
20 Feb 2025 – NZL vs Hong Kong (away)
23 Feb 2025 – NZL vs Philippines (New Zealand)
5-17 Aug 2025 – FIBA Asia Cup 2025 (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
