The Tall Ferns have trimmed their squad to 12 players ahead of the William Jones Cup in Taiwan next week.
Coach Kennedy Kereama has made the decision to omit Hutt Valley guard Jacinta Beckley and Hawkes Bay forward Josie Stockill from the squad of 14 players that have spent the last six days at a training camp in South Auckland.
Kereama was at pains to assure both players they are still very much in the mix for future selection.
“Jacinta and Josie have done nothing wrong in camp this week but we could only take 12 players to Taiwan. Both players will join us in Christchurch for the three game series against Japan. They have the opportunity now to return home, freshen up, work on one or two aspects of their game that the coaching staff have highlighted and then return and put pressure on the incumbents.”
The team leave on Saturday and will have to jump immediately into game mode, as they play their first game against Chinese Taipei B, just 24 hours after arriving in Taiwan. Players and management will have their fingers crossed that their are no hiccups in the travel schedule.
Kereama is looking forward to the games in Taiwan next week “It will be good to pitch ourselves against quality international opposition. It will be an opportunity to put together our defensive and offensive strategies in game situations rather than on the practice court.”
Following the Wiliam Jones Cup the team return for a three test series against Japan in Christchurch.
The Tall Ferns will then contest the FIBA Oceania Series against Australia, in Melbourne on August 15 and Tauranga on August 17. The winner of this series earns direct entry to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
PLAYERS SELECTED TO TRAVEL TO TAIWAN
Guards/Small Forwards
Micaela Cocks, Townsville Fire (AUS) 29yrs Jordan Hunter, Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks (NZ) 24yrs Stella Beck, Saint Mary’s College of California (USA) 19yrs Samara Gallaher, Hume City Broncos (AUS) / Oceana Gold Rush Otago (NZ) 22yrs Natalie Taylor, Gladstone Power (AUS) 32yrs Kalani Purcell, Brigham Young University (USA) / Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks (NZ) 20yrs Chevannah Paalvast, Southern Peninsular Sharks (AUS) 23yrs
Forwards/Centres
Lisa Wallbutton, Willeton Tigers (AUS) 29yrs Jess Bygate, Gladstone Power (AUS) / Nelson Sparks (NZ) 23yrs Megan Craig, Lakeside Lightning (AUS) 22yrs Penina Davidson, University of California (USA) / Harbour Breeze (NZ) 19yrs Tessa Boagni, California State University (USA) 19yrs
TALL FERNS SCHEDULE
27-31 July, William Jones Cup, Taiwan
27 July v Chinese Taipei B, 5pm local time.
28 July v Japan, 3pm local time.
29 July v South Korea, 3pm local time
30 July v Chinese Taipei A, 7pm local time
31 July v USA Select, 3pm local time
5-9 August, Three game series v Japan
5 August v Japan, Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, tip-off 11am
7 August v Japan, Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, tip-off 7pm
9 August v Japan, EA Stadium, Ashburton, tip-off 2pm
15 August, FIBA Oceania Series, v Australia, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
17 August, FIBA Oceania Series, v Australia, ASB Arena, Tauranga
Tickets for the Tall Ferns v Australia game in Tauranga are on sale through www.ticketek.co.nz CLICK HERE for details on both the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns in the FIBA Oceania Series.
