New Zealand - Shore set for world sport stage

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The North Shore is primed for another major world sporting event.

In July’s Fiba under-19 world basketball championships, the North Shore Events Centre will host the lion’s share of the action, including all finals.

Games will be split between the Glenfield arena and Auckland’s ASB Stadium with 39 of the 62 fixtures decided on the Shore.

With no Olympic or senior honours at stake in 2009 the youth championships represent world basketball’s flagship event of the year.

Local basketball looks set for a further boon with nine Breakers academy players in with a chance of making the New Zealand squad.

Westlake Boys and North Harbour centre Rob Loe is hotly-tipped to feature after outstanding performances in a pre-season tournament in Melbourne.

Loe helped the Junior Tall Blacks to the final of the tournament, drawing praise from coach Kenny McFadden.

"He played very well," said McFadden. "He probably played the best he’s played for the Junior Tall Blacks in the first game. He would have scored in the mid-20s and probably had 10 to 15 rebounds. He ran the lane extremely fast."

McFadden is not expected to name a final 12-man roster until April.

Fellow Breakers academy players Morgan Nathan, Sam King, Tom Rowe, David Beck, Tom du Chatenier, David Garbett Ovens, Patrich Bolstad and Logan van Beek could also make the cut.

Based in Dairy Flat, Cantabrian van Beek, who also played in Melbourne, recently teamed up with Tall Blacks great Pero Cameron for the official draw of the youth world championships.

"It’s going to be great to have home suppport," says van Beek.

"And it’s great that academy players at the Breakers get to train with the likes of Paul Henare, Kirk Penney and Phill Jones. They’ve so much experience and they’re keen to share it."

New Zealand face Argentina in the opening match of the tournament at the North Shore Events Centre on July 2.