Tall Blacks Travel to Philippines Next Week for FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

The Tall Blacks will enjoy their first taste of international basketball in over a year, with the senior men’s squad preparing to travel to the Philippines next week for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

New Zealand are one of 16 nations vying for Asia and Oceania’s seven spots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which is currently in the first round of preparations. These 16 teams will play in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers during six windows across the first and second rounds, with next week’s Qualifiers being held in the 2^nd window.

The 2^nd window, held from 21 February – 1 March 2022, will see the Tall Blacks (27^th ranked by FIBA) playing four games against its Group A counterparts in the Philippines (33^rd), Korea (30^th) and India (80^th). These games will be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the Cubao area of Quezon City, in a secure bubble environment.

All of the Tall Blacks games in these Qualifiers will be screened live on Spark Sport from 24 – 28 February 2022.

At the end of the first round, the top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round of the Asian Qualifiers, with all teams carrying over their first round results.

An initial roster of 21 senior men’s players has been named, with 14 of these players set to travel from either New Zealand or Australia into Manila on 21 February. They will be joined in the bubble by Tall Blacks Head Coach Pero Cameron and Assistant Coaches Trent Adam and Daryl Cartwright.

Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) Head of High Performance, Leonard King believes it is important that New Zealand attends this qualifier event as it eyes a berth in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

“This is our first Tall Blacks game since facing the Australian Boomers in February last year, which itself was organised after the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying event – scheduled to played in the Philippines in Feb 2021 – was cancelled due to COVID 19,” says King.

“Now that the travel ban imposed by the Philippines Government has been lifted, combined with the recent changes to New Zealand’s travel restrictions, we’re able to send a competitive Tall Blacks team to this tournament.”

King is confident that they’ll be taking a balanced squad into the bubble, with a focus both on winning all four games and gaining some international experience.

“We’ve got experienced Tall Blacks in the squad mixed with some up-and-coming players; I see this as a great chance for some of our younger athletes to gain international experience and to prove themselves on the big stage.

“And because our first round results carry over into the next round, every game matters – so we’ll be looking to win all our games to help build that momentum leading up to next year’s World Cup.”

King says that advanced plans are in place to protect players and staff as they travel to – and stay in – the Philippines for the duration of the Qualifier.

“FIBA has put in place a high-level set of Covid protocols for all teams in this bubble, so we’re confident that every precaution will be taken – which is important as we value the health and safety of our athletes and staff.”

The Tall Blacks will travel to Manila, Philippines on 21 February for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, taking on Philippines, Korea and India over four games from 24 – 28 February.

Follow the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers at:

www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/asian-qualifiers

https://nz.basketball/national-teams/tall-blacks/

Schedule (Spark Sport)

NZL v INDIA                      24 Feb ‘22, 8pm

NZL v KOREA                    25 Feb ‘22, 8pm

NZL v PHILLIPINES           28th Feb ‘22, 12am

INDIA v NZL                      28th Feb ‘22, 8pm

* All times NZT

Tall Blacks Squad of 21

Initial Squad of 21 for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. A travelling team of 14 players will be announced later this week.

Ends.