NZL - Turkey shoot as NZNBL heats up

WAIKATO (NZNBL) - With just three rounds remaining before the start of the playoffs, New Zealand's National Basketball League (NZNBL) is heating up, with a number of players in contention for the upcoming FIBA World Championship putting together some impressive performances.

The first-placed Waikato Pistons (12-4) have lost three straight games to drop back into the chasing pack, but it has been no fault of New Zealand Tall Blacks emerging small forward Thomas Abercrombie, who has averaged 21 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists over that stretch.

Abercrombie scored 24 against the second-placed Nelson Giants (11-4), but fellow Kiwi internationals Mika Vukona (21 points, 7 rebounds) and Phill Jones (15 points, 3 assists) guided Nelson to a 76-71 victory to move within half a game of top spot.

Former table-toppers Harbour Heat have also been struggling, losing five straight games until last round. The Heat fell to the Hawkes Bay Hawks (9-6) 102-97 despite an incredible 40-point outburst from Tall Blacks reserve guard Corey Webster.

The 21-year-old, a star in FIBA underage competitions, is averaging an impressive 24 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in just over 23 minutes per game this NZNBL season, and will be looked at closely as a potential reserve in Turkey. New Zealand open their FIBA World Championship campaign on 28 August against Lithuania in Izmir.

The Heat finally broke through for a victory over the cellar-dwelling Otago Nuggets (0-14) thanks to 21 points from Webster, as well as the 25 points and nine rebounds put up by fellow international reserve BJ Anthony. Despite the losing streak, the Heat narrowly hold onto fourth position with a 9-6 record.

The Wellington Saints (11-4), coached by New Zealand legend Pero Cameron, continued their climb up the table with a 103-84 victory over the fading Pistons, powered by Tall Blacks starting point guard Lindsay Tait, who finished with 19 points and 15 assists.

He had 25 points and four steals the next night as the Saints defeated the Taranaki Mountain Airs (6-8) 84-73, overcoming 21 points and 15 rebounds from Tall Black fringe player Jeremiah Trueman.

In Invercargill, import Mike Helms went for 30 points and grabbed five rebounds in leading the Southland Sharks (7-7) to an 88-79 win over the Heat, keeping the southerners' playoff hopes very much alive.

In other games, Taranaki defeated Manawatu (1-11) 108-78 and the Hawks defeated Otago 102-67.

Paulo Kennedy
FIBA