The Tall Blacks will look to improve to a 3-0 record in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game in Manila, when they take on India tonight in a re-match against their Group A counterpart.
This game is a re-match of New Zealand’s first game in the bubble, where they ran riot over 80th-ranked India with a 55-point win, 101-46. That game featured a dominant effort by bigs Rob Loe (15 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) and Tom Vodanovich (21 points, 4 rebounds), as well as complimentary efforts by Ethan Rusbatch (18 points, 5 assists) and Taylor Britt (11 points, 4 steals).
Across the two games in the bubble, the Kiwis are dominating across several statistical categories.
Rebounding has played a major role for the Tall Blacks, with the Kiwis grabbing a combined 95 rebounds over the two games vs 63 for their opponents; a solid 32 rebound advantage. This includes 27 offensive rebounds against 13 for the opposition; part of the reason why New Zealand has racked up 31 second-chance points across the two games.
The Kiwis have also relied on a dynamic inside-outside game; over their two games they’ve scored just under 50% of their points in the paint (94 points total), while 34% of their points have come from three pointers (65 points total at a 33% clip).
Their defence has also been on form, with the Tall Blacks holding their opponents to 39% shooting, including an impressive 16% from downtown (7/44). By comparison, the Kiwis have shot a sturdy 50% from the field over the two games, and 33% from downtown (21/64).
Tall Black head coach, Pero Cameron says that he expects the squad to perform even better tonight when they face India again tonight.
“We’ve got a quick turnaround, so we need to look at some of the things that we need to adjust, be better on, and always look at them as a team and look at what they like to do, what coach likes to do for them and create some things, stop some things.
“We’re excited to be playing. Like everybody, it’s always tough playing on the second day [of a back-to-back].”
The Tall Blacks face India in their third and final game of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game in Manila, Philippines. Tip-off is at 3pm Manila time (8pm NZT) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Catch the Tall Blacks in action live on Spark Sport.
Tall Blacks Squad vs India
- #2, Taane Samuel, Power Forward
- #3, Brayden Inger, Small Forward
- #5, Taylor Britt, Point Guard
- #6, Jayden Bezzant, Point Guard
- #8, Tai Wynyard, Centre
- #10, Richie Rodger, Point Guard
- #13, Dion Prewster, Shooting Guard (Captain)
- #14, Rob Loe, Centre
- #15, Tom Vodanovich, Power Forward
- #20, Taki Fahrensohn, Small Forward
- #22, Hyrum Harris, Small Forward
- #25, Ethan Rusbatch, Shooting Guard
Keep up to date with all things Tall Blacks at:
nz.basketball/national-teams/tall-blacks/
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