A solid start for the Junior Tall Blacks this morning, as they defeat hosts Jordan 71-62 in their first game of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup.
After the Kiwis took a comfortable 34-25 lead into the half-time break, Jordan stormed back late in the third to take their first lead; outscoring 22-11 in the period as New Zealand went cold, shooting 4-13 from the floor.
But an 11-0 run by New Zealand down the stretch – led by Tama Isaac’s 23 points, 9 rebounds & 7 assists – sealed the win, with the Junior Tall Blacks hitting a trio of three pointers in the period while holding Jordan to just five made baskets.
Supporting Isaac was Kahu Treacher with his 18 points, while Jonty Bond added 11 and Carter Hopoi with 5 points & 13 rebounds. For Jordan, Saif Al-Deen Salah was dominant with his 17 points and 14 rebounds, but coughed up 7 turnovers, while Omar Khaled Mahmoud Salman added 12.
New Zealand also withstood the absence of Tall Blacks 7’0” centre Julius Halaifonua, who will miss the FIBA U18 Asia Cup tournament due to injury.
The Kiwis won this game despite a poor shooting performance, hitting just 33.3% of their shots from the field and going 5/35 from outside the arc at a 14% clip. But they got the job done on defence, forcing Jordan into 23 turnovers (versus 13 for the Kiwis) and just 21 made baskets on 34% shooting.
New Zealand also scored where and when it counted; over half of their points (36) came inside the paint, and they outscored Jordan 26-15 in the final frame – Treacher pivotal with his five straight points late in the fourth, to give the Junior Tall Blacks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish again.
The Junior Tall Blacks are back in action tomorrow, facing Indonesia at 1.30am on Wed 4 September – watch it live at www.youtube.com/fiba
Stats:
New Zealand 71 – Isaac 23 PTS & 9 REBS & 7 AST | Treacher 18 PTS PTS | Bond 11 PTS | Hopoi 5 PTS & 13 REB | Hunt 4 PTS | Blight 2 PTS & 6 REB | Heke 2 PTS | Silberstein 2 PTS | Eagle 2 PTS | Christof 2 PTS
Jordan 62 – Saleh 17 PTS & 14 REB | Salman 12 PTS | Hijazi 7 PTS & 6 REB | Kassem 7 PTS
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U18AC_NZLvJOR
Quarter Scores: 15-13, 34-25, 45-27, 71-62
FIBA U18 Men’s Asia Cup – New Zealand Schedule and Results
NZL v Jordan – Tue 3 Sep (WON 71-62)
NZL v Indonesia – 1.30am NZT, Wed 4 Sep
NZL v Philippines – 1.30am NZT, Thu 5 Sep
NZ Men’s U18 Squad at U18 Men’s Asia Cup
Adam Barton, Nelson Basketball Association
Will Blight, Nelson Basketball Association
Jonty Bond, Nelson Basketball Association
Chris Christof, Otago Basketball
Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Mahnaya Heke, Waikato Basketball
Julius Halaifonua, NBA Global Academy
Carter Hopoi, Tauranga Basketball Association
Ryan Hunt, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball
Tama Isaac, Canterbury Basketball
Dov Silberstein, Basketball Manawatu
Kahu Treacher, Eastern Arizona College (US)
