WELLINGTON (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - New Zealand will have revenge in mind as they tangle with Korea in the global opening game for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

New Zealand still freshly remember how they lost not once but twice to Korea at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut a few months ago. They dropped a nail-biter to the Koreans, 76-75, in the group stage and were upended again in the battle for third place, 80-71.

The Tall Blacks are, therefore, raring to give Korea a rude welcome at the TSB Bank Arena tomorrow here in Wellington. Coach Paul Henare's squad are aiming at a victory in this, their first Group A game before they fly out to face Hong Kong on 26 November.

Korea, for their part, has a tough road ahead. They plunge into action here against a highly motivated New Zealand unit and then host the mighty Chinese at home in a few days. It's a difficult stretch for Korea, but a roster full of their top tier stars should significantly buoy their chances.

Key Matchups: Two guys who are certain to be critical players for New Zealand are the Webster brothers, Corey and Tai. They are two of the most talented guards in New Zealand, and they will add much needed depth to the Tall Blacks as the face the Koreans. The Webster brothers were not around when they played Korea in Beirut, and they will definitely make a huge difference in the Qualifiers. On the opposite end, Korea will not have top playmaker Kim SunHyung to match up with either of the Websters, so they will heavily rely on veterans Park ChanHee and Kim SiRae as well as young gun Heo Hoon. None of them are on the same level as the Websters individually, but all three Korean guards are speedsters and streaky shooters.

Key Stats: Playmaking was a crucial factor in Korea's two wins over New Zealand at the Asia Cup, and it will continue to be important in this encounter. The Koreans' hallmark ball movement and speed were on full display in Beirut this past August as they had more assists than New Zealand in both their games, totaling a 45-26 disparity. Coach Hur Jae will surely continue to bank on his team's brilliant playmaking when they face the Tall Blacks, but it is reasonable to expect coach Henare to make significant adjustments aimed at disrupting the Koreans' offensive flow.

FIBA