Fotu: New Zealand doesn't have the reputation, but can hang with the best

ULM (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - New Zealand may not be known as one of the top teams in the world but Isaac Fotu believes the Tall Blacks will work their way through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers and then show they belong on the global stage.

New Zealand top Group E of the Asian Qualifiers with a 7-1 record after victories in the September window over Syria and Lebanon. The loss dropped Lebanon to 6-2 and into joint second place with Korea with Jordan lingering at 5-3.

"The September window was very productive for us. We went into camp a week before the games in Qatar and got a good week of trainings in as a team. The game against Syria in Lebanon was a good warm up game for us to run through our stuff and get used to playing with each other again," said Fotu, who picked up 17 points and 6 rebounds in the 107-66 win over the Syrians.

The second game in the window proved to be a real battle for supremacy in the group. After Lebanon jumped ahead by 11 points after the first quarter, New Zealand fought back and the game was close in the second and third quarters. Lebanon went back up by nine points in the fourth quarter and the Tall blacks could not nose back ahead until Shea Ili’s free throws with 22 seconds in a 63-60 win in Rotorua.

Fotu, who scored 11 points with 7 rebounds and 3 steals in the game, said the Tall Blacks knew they were in for a fight.

"We knew Lebanon were going to be a tough opponent and they showed why as they led for most the game but we just stuck together and kept digging at them and took the lead at the end of the game and ended up winning. Lebanon are a tough team with experienced players so it was a big win for us especially on home soil," the 24-year-old Fotu said.

New Zealand are close to locking up a berth at China 2019, which would their fifth straight World Cup appearance, dating back to their Semi-Finals showing in 2002. Fotu said the Tall Blacks are hoping to secure their spot in next summer’s global spectacle in the next window, when they host Jordan on November 29 and Syria on December 2.

"I know we have almost qualified, but we know the job isn't done yet. We are going to give everything we have in these next games as we all want to make the FIBA World Cup," said the 6ft 8in (2.03m) Fotu, who averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds at Spain 2014. "We know it won't be easy but we are confident in the group of guys we have."

“(THE WORLD CUP) WILL BE HUGE FOR US AS A GROUP AND A NATION TO SHOWCASE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A SMALL POPULATION AND DON'T REALLY HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING A TOP TEAM IN WORLD BASKETBALL, WE CAN HANG WITH THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD."- Fotu

The ratiopharm Ulm big man said New Zealand are primed to reach China 2019 and then give their compatriots another reason to celebrate following 2002.

"I know the team is excited about making the World Cup and it will be huge for us as a group and a nation to showcase that even though we have a small population and don't really have a reputation of being a top team in world basketball, we can hang with the best teams in the world," Fotu said. "It would be great for us to make the World Cup so we can represent our country on the world stage and get to go up against the best in the world. I think with the popularity of basketball growing in New Zealand it would be awesome for young basketballers to see us play against big names which would boast popularity even more."

Since reaching the Semi-Finals in 2002, New Zealand three times advanced from the group stage in 2006, 2010 and 2014. But the Round of 16 was the exit stage for New Zealand each time, losing respectively to Argentina, Russia and Lithuania.

Fotu has played in all four of the Asian Qualifiers windows and he believes the team is working towards a good showing at China 2019.

"I have seen a great development of our team over these windows. I think (head coach) Pauli (Paul Henare) does a great job with us playing to our strengths and running the right things for our personnel," said Fotu, who is averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in the Qualifiers. "We want to continue to get better and develop and hopefully peak at the World Cup next year."

When the Tall Blacks hope to show they can hang with the rest of the world.

FIBA