Famous names and 3x3 stars on New Zealand roster
SUVA (FIBA U18 Oceania Championship 2016) - A host of famous surnames and 3x3 stars highlight a New Zealand roster set on seeking revenge from a heart-breaking loss to Australia in the Final two years ago.
As teams begin to assemble in Suva ahead of Sunday's opening tip-off, New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks head coach Daryl Cartwright has been amongst the first to settle on his final 12 players.
| New Zealand 12-player roster for FIBA U18 Oceania Championship 2016 | |||
| Joshua Aitcheson | Takiula Fahrensohn | Callum McRae | Flynn Cameron |
| Daniel Fotu | Samson Aruwa | Tobias Cameron | Isaac Letoa |
| Taane Samuel | Quinn Clinton | Hamish McDonald | Samuel Waardenburg |
In a small coup for New Zealand, Australian-based brothers Flynn and Tobias Cameron have committed to New Zealand, the country their father Pero helped put on the global basketball map when he led them to the bronze medal game at the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
A New Zealand sporting legacy is starting to form with the inclusion of Daniel Fotu, younger brother of Isaac. Isaac Fotu has established himself on the national team in recent seasons, as well as in the Spanish ACB, considered arguably to be the most competitive domestic league outside of the NBA.
The Junior Tall Blacks can thank 3x3 for already offering three of their roster exposure at international level with Sam Waardenburg, Isaac Letoa and Hamish McDonald members of the New Zealand team that competed at the 2016 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Kazakhstan back in June.
They will be hoping these factors will be able to give them the edge in what many are already anticipating to be a repeat of the 2014 Final showdown with Australia. On that occasion, it was the Australians triumphing over their trans-Tasman rivals 84-81 in the gold medal game.
FIBA
