KAUNAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Casey Frank has claimed the hotly-contested naturalized spot in the New Zealand Tall Blacks' squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

The coach of the Kiwis, Nenad Vucinic, has opted to take the 35-year-old who averaged 10 points and 2.5 rebounds per game during last year's FIBA Oceania Championship.

A 2.03m power forward, Frank has represented the Tall Blacks every summer since 2009.

He got the nod over Nick Horvath, who played at Duke University for USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and wore the New Zealand shirt at the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

"It was a very difficult decision for us, so I can't even imagine how difficult it would have been for Nick in this situation," said Vucinic.

The coach says the team needs Frank to now become more influential.

"Casey has to pick up his form in the next two weeks," Vucinic said.

"He has been under enormous pressure with the selection, but now we need him to show what he's capable of.

"He's  a very good passer, a very good shooter and a good rebounder as well.

"He also understands the systems well and has got a leadership role in this team."

Horvath has won a place in the hearts and minds of all the Tall Blacks and the coaches.

The players did a haka in his honor after he was told the news.

The haka is an ancestral war cry that is borrowed from the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maoris, that the Tall Blacks do before every game.

Vucinic said the haka done for Horvath added to an already emotionally-charged atmosphere.

"He took it well," Vucinic said.

"We had a meeting, and the boys did probably the best ever haka I've seen in my life performed by the Tall Blacks to Nick.

"It was very emotional. Nick took it like a man.

"I wish him all the best and my heart goes out to him."

Among the players set to make their World Cup bows are Everard Bartlett, Isaac Fotu, Rob Loe, Tai Webster, Jarrod Kenny and Corey Webster.

New Zealand found the going tough in their last three games that were played in Kaunas, Lithuania.

One look at the Power Ladder shows they fell to Slovenia (80-74), Lithuania (85-79) and Greece (95-65).

The Tall Blacks will face the USA, Finland, Dominican Republic, Ukraine and Turkey in Group C, in Bilbao, at the World Cup.

New Zealand squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup: Everard Bartlett, Mika Vukona, BJ Anthony, Isaac Fotu, Casey Frank, Rob Loe, Lindsay Tait, Tai Webster, Jarrod Kenny, Kirk Penney, Corey Webster and Tom Abercrombie.

FIBA