Tall Blacks draw defending champs Spain

MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post

OFF TO IZMIR: The Tall Blacks were drawn in Group D with Spain, France, Canada, Lithuania and Lebanon for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

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The Tall Blacks will play defending world champions Spain, France, Canada, Lithuania and Lebanon at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

New Zealand were drawn into Group D by former Houston Rockets and USA centre Hakeen Olajuwon at the official draw in Istanbul, playing their preliminary round games in the coastal city of Izmir.

The Tall Blacks can be content with their group for the 16th world championship from August 28-September 12, with two teams - Spain and Lithuania - ranked above them in the FIBA rankings, with France, Canada and Lebanon ranked below.

Spain, featuring Los Angeles Lakers centre Pau Gasol and phenom guard Ricki Rubio, are the highest ranked in the Tall Blacks group at number three, with Lithuania, who needed a wildcard to make the tournament field, sixth, France 15th, Canada 19th and Lebanon 24th. New Zealand has a world ranking of 13th.

The Tall Blacks, heading into their fourth year under Nenad Vucinic, beat both Canada and Lebanon in 2008 in non-FIBA tournament games.

After Oceania rivals Australia were drawn in a tough Group A, to play in Kayseri, with Argentina, Serbia, Germany, Angola and Jordan, New Zealand had a one in three chance of a preliminary round match-up with the USA. They missed that chance but, possibly more importantly, avoided a potential second round cross-over game with the Olympic champions.

With the USA in Group B, playing in Istanbul, were Slovenia, Brazil, Croatia, Iran and Tunisia, while hosts Turkey were joined in pool C, to be played in the capital Ankara, by Greece, Puerto Rico, Russia, China and Ivory Coast.

2010 FIBA World Championship groups

Group A
(Kadir Has Arena, Kayseri)
Argentina (1)
Serbia (5)
Australia (11)
Germany (7)
Angola (12)
Jordan (37)

Group B
(Abdi Apekci Arena, Istanbul)
USA (2)
Slovenia (20)
Brazil (14)
Croatia (15)
Iran (21)
Tunisia (42)

Group C
(Ankara Arena, Ankara)
Greece (4)
Turkey (18)
Puerto Rico (10)
Russia (17)
China (9)
Ivory Coast (40)

Group D
(Izmir Halkapinar Sport Hall, Izmir)
Spain (2)
France (15)
Canada (19)
Lithuania (6)
New Zealand (13)
Lebanon (24)

- © Fairfax NZ News