Tall Blacks focus firmly on Boomers

WELLINGTON (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - Lindsay Tait is an important player for the New Zealand Tall Blacks for many reasons.

The most important, coach Paul Henare is likely to say, is his experience.

The 33-year-old is about to play in his fifth FIBA Oceania Championship, a two-game series against Australia that tips off Saturday in Melbourne and concludes three days later in Wellington.

The winner will clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games while the loser will have to settle for a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Tait, a member of the Tall Black sides that made headlines last year not only with its performances in games at the FIBA Basketball World Cup but also doing the Haka, is excited.

After the Tall Blacks' victory over Mexico in the Stankovic Cup Final at the weekend in China, he said: "We have worked hard and for sure we will enjoy this.

"The boys are a tight group and we will celebrate together tonight.

But Tait made it clear, that he and his teammates had something far more important in mind.

"We are already switched on to the Aussies, that is what this is all about," he said.

Paul Henare, the New Zealand coach, had settled on his final 12-man squad before the game against Mexico, electing to go without Leon Henry and Dion Prewster.

Both players will be on standby, in case of an injury this week.

"Now we quickly turn our attention to the main focus, this is all leading up to the series against Australia, that is our one and only goal and we are only a few steps along the way," Henare said.

Henare is looking for any edge that he can get before the Tall Blacks face the Aussies.

He was more than happy for former captain Glen Denham, who played for New Zealand at the 1986 FIBA Basketball World Cup, to share some inspirational words with the players this week.

New Zealand squad for FIBA Oceania Championship: Tom Abercrombie, Duane Bailey, Everard Bartlett, Isaac Fotu, Shea Ili, Jarrod Kenny, Robert Loe, Reuben Te Rangi, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster, Tai Wynyard and Lindsay Tait.

FIBA