NZL/CPV – Kiwis blow out Cape Verde in opener

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ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – New Zealand thrashed Cape Verde on the first day of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

The Tall Blacks scored the game’s first 16 points and rolled to a 77-50 victory to put one foot in the quarter-finals.

With several new faces in the squad following the international retirements of players like Phill Jones and Dillon Boucher, the Kiwis led by as many as 22 points in the first half and 28 in the third quarter as they rolled to a decisive triumph.

“We were really nervous about their team, they’re an unknown ,” said New Zealand captain Pero Cameron.

“They had some good results against some teams at the last World Championship.

“We got the win. They had a nervous start, but we have to get ready for the next one.”

New Zealand will face a far more difficult task against Germany in their next game.

“Any team that we face we want to beat,” Cameron said. “We don’t prepare to fail.”

Kirk Penney, who like Cameron played in the side that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIBA World Championship, had 25 points and seven rebounds to lead the team.

Turnovers were a huge problem for New Zealand in their preparation games and they continue to plague them.

Nenad Vucinic’s team had 13 in the first half and 22 for the game.

Cape Verde now face the nightmare scenario on Tuesday of having to beat Germany, who have NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman, to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.

“We can’t think about the names,” said Cape Verde guard Tony Barros.

“We just have to come back, play better defense and execute.

“We finished off this game on a positive note and have to take it from there.”

FIBA