Tall Blacks await world champs opponents

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Winning the Oceania championship in August should have given the New Zealand Tall Blacks a chance at a more favourable draw for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

But the way head coach Nenad Vucinic tells it, no country is getting off easy in Turkey.

The draw for the 16th world championship to be held in the Turkish cities of Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Kayseri from August 28-September 12 will be held in Istanbul on Tuesday (10.30pm NZ time), where the Tall Blacks will learn their five group opponents.

"I don't think there is any benefit at all," Vucinic said, when asked about the advantage of being Oceania champions.

"Usually it means you will not get many winners from the other zones but what happened this year was winners of the zones were not the best teams on paper and probably will be weaker teams next year.

"For example, in Asia, Iran beat (Yao Ming-less) China and we will probably have more chance to draw China instead of Iran. But we certainly would not trade our Oceania gold medal for a better draw."

Other examples include Argentina, who played without San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and almost failed to qualify from the Americas; and Germany, who were without Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and did not automatically qualify out of Europe but could get a life through one of four wildcards.

With 20 of the 24-team field filled through zone qualifying, FIBA's Central Board selected Russia, Lithuania, Germany and Lebanon as the four wildcard entries yesterday, taking playing, economic and governance aspects into consideration when making the selections.

Representing Basketball New Zealand at the draw, to be held at the imperial Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel, Istanbul, will be former president Barbara Wheadon, a member of the FIBA Central Board, and New Zealand ambassador to Turkey, Andrea Smith.

FIBA does not disclose the specifics of the draw (seedings, pots etc) in advance of the balls being picked from bowls.

The only thing New Zealand is guaranteed is to not face Oceania rivals Australia in the group stage. All other countries would be in play, meaning the Tall Blacks could end up with a nightmarish USA, Greece, China, Brazil, Angola group.

"Very hard to say who our preferences would be," said Vucinic from his base in Tallinn, Estonia, where he coaches pro club BC Kalev/Cramo.

"From Europe all teams are very very strong. From Americas, it would be great to avoid the top three, USA, Argentina and Brazil, From Africa, would be great to avoid Angola, and from Asia, China.

"We will definitely have at least two teams from Europe in our section. Obviously we would prefer to be with non zone winners from Africa and Asia, but realistically it might not happen.

"The strongest teams are USA and Spain, and definitely we would not like to have them in our pool."

New Zealand has competed at three previous world championships – 1986 in Madrid, Spain (where they were grouped with Argentina, Canada, Malaysia, Netherlands and Yugoslavia); 2002 in Indianapolis, USA (Russia, Venezuela, Argentina); and 2006 in Japan (Angola, Germany, Japan, Panama, Spain).

The Tall Blacks progressed to the second round in 2002 and 2006, going on a movie-script run to the semifinals under Tab Baldwin, with Vucinic assisting, in Indianapolis.

"The draw is very important. A bad draw gives you minimal chances to get to the next round. We know that getting to the second stage of the tournament would be amazing achievement but we like those achievements.

"It's hard to tell before the draw, but we always have a chance."

- © Fairfax NZ News