AUCKLAND (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - A new era in international basketball tips off later this year with FIBA's Competition System 2017+ and New Zealand coach Paul Henare is already declaring the change will be a boon for the sport in his country.

Over a four-year cycle, starting this November, national teams will play regular home and away games to qualify for the World Cup and the FIBA Continental Cups 2021.

In the past, New Zealand and Australia squared off in FIBA Oceania Championships every other summer but now, each will face other national teams as they attempt to reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Even before then, the Tall Blacks and Boomers will venture into new territory when they compete in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut in August.

"It is such a rare thing to play for your country and to pull the black jersey on in front of family at such close proximity, that is special. Look at someone like Mika Vukona, who has probably played over 200 games for his country but very few of them would have been at home, with his family having the chance to watch him play." - Henare

Henare says there are different aspects to the new competition system that he likes, "things that are quite exciting about the change, including the chance to play guaranteed games at home throughout the year.

"We will play more internationals and gain that exposure through Asia. We will also get the opportunity to expand our overall Tall Blacks group because at different stages throughout the year we are going to call upon players who might not have played for us before. We will have players unavailable at different times, meaning we will go deeper into our playing group for some windows."

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The Tall Blacks are always difficult opponents no matter where they play. Henare was on the roster in 2002 when they made a surprising run to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis.

In 2014, he was an assistant coach when the Kiwis had their backs against the wall after three straight defeats at the start of the World Cup in Bilbao but they beat Ukraine and Finland and advance to the Round of 16.

Henare coached the team at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship against the Boomers and then led the Tall Blacks at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, where they were a handful for all the teams they faced, including the Philippines.

Imagine what the New Zealanders will be like when they are roared on by their own fans in arenas around the country? The Tall Blacks have been crying out for more meaningful home games for many years. Now, with the new competition system, that will be a reality.

"It is such a rare thing to play for your country and to pull the black jersey on in front of family at such close proximity, that is special," Henare said. "Look at someone like Mika Vukona, who has probably played over 200 games for his country but very few of them would have been at home, with his family having the chance to watch him play.

"This new system creates those opportunities and makes a playing career that much more special. And with those games being World Cup qualifiers, it makes them all the more significant."

New Zealand senior men's national team head coach Paul Henare

Henare says the help that home games will give to the country is already evident because of the impact of games played by the country's NBL side, the New Zealand Breakers.

"The Breakers have had an impact through sheer exposure and popularity, through having Kiwis playing in front of Kiwis on a regular basis they have been able to grow the game," Henare said.

"To be able to do that with the national team is only going to help that growth, hopefully the spinoff is having more and more kids wanting to wear the black singlet and be a part of that. In that way, the increased exposure has to be good for our game."

While Australia have always been a difficult hurdle to clear to reach Olympic Games, Henare says no one should be under the illusion that the new system will make it easier for the Tall Blacks to qualify for big tournaments.

"Playing against Australia was a big challenge and a mountain to climb but by no means is this any less significant of a challenge," Henare said, "largely because of a different set of circumstances that we will face throughout that period."

FIBA