Box Score:
http://cba.sports.sina.com.cn/warmupmatch/men/schedule/show/13772/
The Tall Blacks got their Stankovic Cup campaign underway with a win in China tonight, but it was closer than many had predicted against a determined Venezuelan side, the New Zealanders edging away in the final quarter to win 72-65.
The opening minutes gave no indication as to what was to follow, with the Tall Blacks away to a 12-0 run on the back of Duane Bailey and Corey Webster three’s and some early misses for the opposition. That proved to be a false indicator as to the tempo of the game though, with the Tall Blacks then guilty of sitting back and allowing Venezuela into the game.
Coach Henare was pleased with the result and the finish to the game, but not the early going.
“We got the job done and any win should be enjoyed, we have worked hard on this tour and deserved to be on the right side of the result tonight. However, we were guilty of underestimating the opposition and allowed them to get their confidence up and stay in the game for longer than perhaps they should have.
“But I was pleased with the reaction of the guys, the way a younger group set things up in the final quarter for the more experienced group to finish it was encouraging. We did sit two of our leaders tonight in Tom (Abercrombie) and Mika (Vukona) and at times that showed, not that this was a reflection on those on the floor, more it is about how important they are to our team.”
By halftime the Venezuelans had turned the tide and in fact taken the lead at 36-33, with the Kiwis offensive output drying up to the tune of 10 points in the quarter. The game then went to and fro, as each threatened to pull clear but neither was able.
That was until the final 4 minutes when the New Zealanders took control, bossing the boards and finishing with class inside and out as they finally put the Venezuelan’s away for good to notch a first win the in tournament.
Best for the Kiwis was Corey Webster who again led all scorers as he has done throughout the tour, with 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting, including 5 from long range. He received good support from Reuben Te Rangi with 13 points on 5 of 10, including a trio of treys, while Isaac Fotu was a machine on the boards (14) and contributed 8 points in another strong all-round performance, with Everard Bartlett also chipping in with 8 key points.
Stankovic Cup
New Zealand 72, Webster 22, Te Rangi 13, Fotu 8, Bartlett 8
Venezuela 65, Centeno 13, Lopez 11, Valera 10
New Zealand numbers for Box Score reference
0 Ili; 1; Te Rangi; 2 Bailey; 4 Tait; 5 Bartlett; 6 Kenny; 9 Webster; 11 Wynyard; 12 Fotu; 13 Prewster; 14 Loe; 15 Henry
