Teenager Tai Webster couldn’t have timed his meteoric rise to the Tall Blacks any better, emerging as their leading scorer for the second time in two days as they lost 69-99 to Greece at San Carlos, Brazil, today.

Webster (17) was initially a surprise selection for the NZ national men’s team, taking his opportunity with Kirk Penney and Tom Abercrombie both injured, older brother Corey still serving a drug suspension, and point guards Mark Dickel and Mike Fitchett unavailable from last year’s roster.

On debut, he was one of the few bright spots to emerge from yesterday’s 49-73 loss to Brazil and Webster went even better in his second outing, promoted to the starting line-up and pouring in 18 points to lead all scorers as the Kiwis put up an improved effort against the world’s fourth-ranked team.

“Tai has got a massive future ahead of him,” said captain Mika Vukona. “I really didn’t know what to expect from him when he first came into the team, but his composure for such a young kid in this role is great to see, especially with New Zealand’s stocks in the point guard position very low

“It’s an awesome surprise and he’s only going to get better. Tai’s doing a great job for a young kid, telling everyone what to do and showing the leadership you really want from a point guard.”

The bad news – Webster had to replace veteran point guard Lindsay Tait, who was laid low with a stomach bug and is also doubtful for tomorrow’s game against Nigeria.

After the Greeks started the game with a 13-2 outburst, Webster inspired his team to a 12-2 run of their own that brought them to within a point midway through the opening quarter.

But playing great team basketball, their rivals responded with another 18-4 run that carried them well clear for good, dishing out 10 assists by the end of the first period. The margin stretched to 38 points late in the fourth period, but as they did yesterday, New Zealand closed with a rush to reduce the final deficit.

“Greece always put together a great team,” said captain Mika Vukona. “They’re a well-drilled team that plays pretty much perfect basketball.

“When they shoot 64% from the two-point area and just as well from three-point … it’s always tough to beat a Greek team on fire.”

They weren’t quite that efficient, but not far off it at 62% and 40% respectively. While the final margin was bigger than the previous performance against the hosts, Greece – runners-up to the United States at the 2006 FIBA World Championship – also represent another level up from Brazil.

Webster’s points haul included three three-pointers, but his was not the only individual performance that stood out among the Kiwis. Vukona, himself, had a pair of treys in 15 points as he continued to get accustomed to the small forward position, while centre Alex Pledger produced a double double of 13 points/10 rebounds that included six offensive boards.

“This is a different position for me,” he said. “It’s something I have to get adjusted to pretty quick to learn where the shots will come. I’ve got to be confident so the others out on court can see.”

Rookie Everard Bartlett also connected three times from the arc and, as a team, the Tall Blacks out-rebounded their opponents 39-27, including 16-4 offensively. They also had the satisfaction of outscoring their rivals 24-20 in the final quarter.

But they also turned the ball over 20 times and shot just 36% from the field.

Tomorrow (10am NZ), they have a chance for victory against the Africans, who were routed 104-65 by Brazil in tonight’s late fixture. Ultimately, the Tall Blacks are using each game to prepare for next week’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Caracas, Venezuela, where the top three teams will secure the final spots available in the draw at London.

“To get a win going into the tournament would be great, but it’s not the be-all,” said Vukona. “Our eyes are firmly on next week, and we need to work on getting our offence and defence right.

“Hopefully, if we can do that, it will hold us in good stead in our opening game against Macedonia.”

Greece 99 (Printezis 17, Bourousis 13, Fotsis 12, Papanikolaou 10) New Zealand 69 (Tai Webster 18, Mika Vukona 15, Alex Pledger 13, Everard Bartlett 11, Jarrod Kenny 4, Jeremiah Trueman 4, Rob Loe 2, Leon Henry 2)
Q1 33-18
HT 55-30 (22-12)
Q3 79-45 (24-15)
FT 99-69 (20-24)
Box Score

 

Tall Blacks’ last-gasp Olympic qualifying attempt got off to a rocky start when they stuttered to a 49-73 loss against a talented Brazil side at a build-up tournament in San Carlos today.

Less than two days after their two-day journey from Canberra, the under-strength NZ men’s outfit faced a home team bolstered by NBA centres Nene Hilario and Anderson Varejao, and were immediately reminded of the harsh realities of international basketball.

“I feel for the guys,” observed former Tall Black Paul Henare, now an assistant coach. “The travel schedule wasn’t an excuse for the performance tonight, but it was definitely a factor – the guys were feeling it a bit.”

They got off to a positive enough start, with veteran Casey Frank hitting from the arc for an early lead.

In this first competitive outing of the campaign, head coach Nenad Vucinic opted for 32-year-old “rookie” Hayden Allen to fill Kirk Penney’s vacant shooting guard spot and moved captain Mika Vukona into Tom Abercrombie’s small forward position, with Frank replacing Vukona at power forward.

But once the game found some momentum, it swung overwhelmingly to the home team, who quickly built a double-figure advantage to lead 19-9 after 10 minutes. They proved especially hard to stop around the basket, and established their dominance despite misfiring from long distance (0/8) and the free-throw line (3/8) through the first half.

Without Penney and Abercrombie – their two best outside threats in recent seasons – New Zealand looked like a team trying to figure out who would score. No one managed to find the basket more than once before halftime and, as a team, they shot just 25% from the field to trail 16-33 at the break.

“That’s something we’ve addressed as a coaching staff,” confirmed Henare. “We’ve lost Kirk and we’ve lost Tom, and that’s a huge chunk of scoring we have to make up.

“We’re still looking for that guy or a few guys to put the ball in the basket.”

Their cause wasn’t helped when Brazilian guard Marquinhos finally connected from afar, sparking an 8-2 run to start the third quarter.

The Tall Blacks found a brief response from the unlikeliest of sources – teenage debutant Tai Webster, who produced a six-point flurry late in the period. They still lagged 32-54 entering the final stretch – not helped by 17 turnovers – but the Kiwis had managed as many points in the previous 10 minutes as they had in the entire first half.

“Tai was fantastic tonight,” said Henare. “He showed a lot of poise and confidence for someone so young, and I’d expect his role in the team to steadily progress. He showed tonight what he’s capable of.”

Leon Henry, Allen and Lindsay Tait all provided treys in the final quarter, and after momentarily falling 30 points behind, New Zealand closed the game with a seven-point run to salvage some respectability.

Webster emerged as the side’s leading scorer with eight points, Frank had seven, while centre Alex Pledger (six points/seven rebounds) and Tait (five points/seven rebounds/four assists) were other significant contributors.

As a team, they converted only 37% from the field, turned the ball over 18 times – just once in the final period though – and probably conceded a few too many offensive boards (11) for their liking.

“After our pre-game meeting this afternoon, we handed out singlets to our four debutants,” said Henare. “That’s a third of the team that haven’t experienced anything like this before and there are a few others that haven’t had a big role in the past. Over half our team haven’t really played international basketball, so playing Brazil in Brazil brings a new kind of expectation and experience.”

Tomorrow, the Tall Blacks face Greece – 88-76 winners over Nigeria in the earlier game – at 10am NZ time. Ultimately, they’re preparing for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Caracas, Venezuela, where they must finish in the top three teams to secure one of the last spots available at London next month.

Brazil 73 (Marquinhos 14, Machado 10) New Zealand 49 (Tai Webster 8, Casey Frank 7, Everard Bartlett 6, Leon Henry 6, Alex Pledger 6, Lindsay Tait 5, Hayden Allen 5, Jarrod Kenny 2, Jeremiah Trueman 2, Rob Loe 2)
Q1 19-9
HT 33-16 (14-7)
Q3 54-32 (21-16)
Q4 73-49 (19-17)

Box Score