Tall Blacks to face Hong Kong, Philippines in final Asia Cup qualifiers

4:43 pm on 20 February 2025

Felicity Reid, Sports Journalist

Walter Brown of the Tall Blacks during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifier Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz

The winless and the unbeaten await the Tall Blacks in their final two games of the Asia Cup qualifying window.

New Zealand has already qualified for the tournament to be played in Saudi Arabia in August, but with two more wins against Hong Kong and the Philippines this week they would qualify as the coveted top seed from their pool.

Coach Judd Flavell said the "ultimate goal" from the last two games in the qualifying pathway was to pave the way to a place in the best pool for the Cup competition.

The Tall Blacks are yet to win the Asia Cup which they first challenged for in 2017.

On Thursday night the Tall Blacks play Hong Kong in Hong Kong and are favourites to beat the team that has lost all four qualifying games so far.

The last time New Zealand played Hong Kong a year ago in Auckland they won 88-49.

On Sunday Tall Blacks host the Philippines who are unbeaten and sit top of the group with four wins. The Philippines are the only team to beat the Tall Blacks during qualifying, claiming a 93-89 win in November in Flavell's first game in charge.

When guard Corey Webster steps on the floor during this FIBA window he will bring up his 100th cap for the Tall Blacks. Which would make him the second player, behind Tom Abercrombie, to achieve the feat.

Webster is the second highest point scorer in Tall Blacks history, behind FIBA Hall of Famer Kirk Penney. He is also by far the most experienced player on the roster for this week's games.

Jordan Ngatai (82 caps), Reuben Te Rangi (69 caps) and Tohi Smith-Milner (64 caps) return after missing the Tall Blacks' last games in November to add some experience.

Tasmania JackJumpers Reuben Te Rangi puts up a shot during the NBL

Tasmania JackJumpers Reuben Te Rangi puts up a shot during the NB Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

For Te Rangi it is the first time he has played for Flavell as the Tall Blacks head coach and he is a fan.

"Every coach has their own philosophies it's cool to see what Juddy brings to the table, a fresh new voice I guess, but the main thing that stays consistent is our culture we hang our hat on our culture and that never changes," Te Rangi said.

Te Rangi, who had been moving between the forward and guard position for his club side, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in the latest NBL season said despite Hong Kong's losing record New Zealand did not want to drop their standards in the opening game of the international window.

"We want to get better every game we want to keep progressing we want to see that progression and I think winning both of these games is gonna put us in the right mindset and right position to be as good as we can in the Asia Cup."

With limited time together as a squad for the upcoming games Te Rangi said they had narrowed down their focus.

"Trying to implement some of our defensive schemes, obviously a new coach has a new defensive mindset. And it's my first time here with the Tall Blacks under Juddy just trying to learn some of the offensive [plays] and some of our other boys are new under Juddy as well, so just trying to make sure all those things are on point throughout this window."

Guards Jackson Ball and Tama Isaac are with the Tall Blacks for the first time after impressing in the New Zealand NBL last year.

"What we're finding with these windows are giving opportunities to these young and exciting guys to make their debuts," Flavell said.

"We're future proofing ourselves by going into the depth-charts and looking at players who we believe are going to be Tall Blacks in the future and for a very long time, and both Tama and Jackson fit that mould."

If Ball gets on the court he would become the third youngest to take the floor behind Tai Wynyard and Izayah Le'afa, who like Ball were 16 years old at the time they debuted.

Wynyard was 16 years and 160 days of age when he became the youngest Tall Blacks player to take the hardwood floor.

After two years out of the squad he will potentially play in his 19th and 20th games for the Tall Blacks in this window.

Flavell's long standing relationship with Wynyard was a key factor into the big-man's return to the national side.

"I had a lot to do with him when he was coming through the Breakers academy and making his debut. We've built a good relationship over that time."

"It's not been smooth sailing and it has not been a straight journey for him, he's had his challenges. Seeing him back on the basketball court, and looking at where he is at with his family, he is someone we're really interested in seeing what he can contribute to our environment."