SHENZJEN (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's too early to know if the New Zealand Tall Blacks will have success at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain but right now, the signs are promising.

After splitting a two-game friendly series against Korea in Seoul, which included a 71-70 victory courtesy of a three-pointer at the death from Kirk Penney in the second meeting, Nenad Vucinic's squad has reeled off three consecutive wins in a four-team tournament in China.

In Shenzjen, China, New Zealand first defeated Cameroon, 75-66, after getting 14 points from Penney, 13 from Corey Webster and 10 apiece from BJ Anthony and Rob Loe.

"It was a good overall performance," said Vucinic.

"Cameroon do not look like the strongest team here, we will certainly have to play better against next two teams but for the first game in China it was not too bad and we will build on this."

Vucinic's side then followed that victory up with a 79-55 blowout of Cote d'Ivoire and then clinched a 97-75 triumph over Chinese club Guangdong Southern Tigers.

One of the keys for New Zealand at the World Cup will be the play of 2.11m Loe, an outstanding talent who just graduated from Saint Louis University.

Loe, who played with the Golden State Warriors NBA Summer League team and joined the Tall Blacks after their three-game series against Korea in New Zealand, has a nice shooting stroke from long range.

With a dearth of big men, however, the team needs Loe to be a big contributor in the paint on both ends of the floor.

"He spreads the floor well and is starting to hit from the outside," said assistant coach Paul Henare, "but we really need more from him in terms of a rebounding presence."

At Spain 2014, New Zealand will play in Bilbao's Group C against the USA, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, Finland and Turkey.

FIBA