Tickets are now on sale for the New Zealand vs Philippines FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers game in Auckland next month, in what will be the first Tall Blacks game on home soil since 2018.
Tickets start from $26.60 and are available via www.eventfinda.co.nz, or by going to https://tinyurl.com/ycy6e9dd
The game also sees a change of schedule by FIBA, with the qualifier now being held on Thursday 30 June at Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland. The second scheduled game, between the Philippines and India, has been re-located to the Philippines at the request of FIBA.
Tall Blacks Head Coach, Pero Cameron says that he is looking forward to seeing the men’s national team playing in front of fans in Aotearoa.
“Any time we get a home game for the Tall Blacks is special, as it’s been hard to get games here [because of Covid] over the past few years,” says Cameron.
“So I’m really looking forward to it and I know the players are too, they love playing at home in front of a cheering kiwi crowd. It’s good for the fans and great for our athletes.”
Cameron says that he’s putting together a strong squad to face Gilas Pilipinas in what will be a re-match of their March game in Manila, held in the previous window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.
“The new date will allow most – if not all – of our NZ-based Tall Blacks to be available for this game, and we’ll be able to have a good amount of preparation on home soil too leading into this game.
“We definitely want a big crowd and at the same time we want our players coming in battle-ready against Gilas Pilipinas who are a tough team
“This game also helps us in that it’s our last game before the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia on 12 July, so hopefully the fans come out at support us – especially since it’s been such a long time since we were last here.”
The Tall Blacks face Gilas Pilipinas at EventFinda Stadium, Auckland on Thursday 30 June 2022. Tickets available here. The game will be shown live on Spark Sport.
About the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers
New Zealand is one of 16 nations vying for Asia and Oceania’s seven spots in the FIBA World Cup 2023. Currently in the first round of preparations, the 16 teams play in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers during six windows across the first and second rounds. After progressing through the 2nd window with a perfect 3-0 record, the Tall Blacks now prepare for their third window game, taking on the Philippines at home in July.
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.
Find out more at www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/asian-qualifiers
