February 22, 2025 • 6 mins
The Tall Blacks are bracing for a physical clash against the Philippines in their Asia Cup basketball qualifying game in Auckland.
Both teams have already qualified for the tournament later this year, but the winner will take top spot in their group.
New Zealand will look to avenge a four-point loss to the Philippines last November.
Assistant head coach Mike Fitchett joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Basketball because the Tour Blacks have started the third window
of the Asia Cup Basketball qualifiers by dismantling their hosts
Hong Kong ninety two to fifty one, stops.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Inside, when goes up, throws it down for you with
some neat Will's passion. That is a professional performance by
New Zealand. They shot the ball incredibly well at times,
but defensively exceptional imposed themselves on Hong Kong shiner.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
At ninety two to fifty one. Jordan Nati top scoring
for New Zealand with twenty points. So New Zealander back
home now they play the Philippines this afternoon. It's Spark
Arena in Auckland, three o'clock tip off. Both sides have
won four and lost one of their matches and their campaigns.
They sit together on nine points to all. Blacks. Assistant
coach Michael Fitchett joins his heead of this game. First
(01:02):
of all, Michael, how happy were you and the coaching
staff with what played out in Hong Kong on Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Pretty happy, you know, to go and go away and
get a road win. By forty odd points as a
way satisfying, but we had a bit of a shaky
start defensively, We went really on the ball, so we
did have some feedback to give to the guys, which
is always nice.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
After a forty point one two absolutely well. The defensive
side of things looks on paper anyway pretty good twenty
four turnovers forced. But was it something that the team
grew into across the game the defensive performance.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, definitely. We gave up twenty one points in the
first quarter, which for us to give up to a
team like Hong Kong as too many. But we really
tightened the screws in the second, third, and fourth quarters.
So we're happy with the response. Just the start. If
we do that against the Philippines will be in we'll
be in a bit of strife early on.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
What about in an offensive scenes, did you achieve what
you wanted to?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
We did? We did with the sort of the focus
of the three days or the three practices over two
days leading into the game. When once we got up
to Hong Kong was really more about the offensive side
of the ball, and the guys were really good. We
kept it simple. We shot the ball really well, obviously
Jordan Natai six from seven from three, but we did
a good job getting to the room as well, and
(02:22):
Taylor Brett really ran the show for us. So we're
offensive side of the ball were pretty you know, a
lot of a lot of positives there.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So Box has ticked against Hong Kong. You mentioned the
Philippines there, What what do you expect from them and
how how much bigger of a challenge are they going
to be?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Yeah, it's it's a different kettle of fish, different standard
of opposition for sure. We lost them in November. And
their style of players super physical. They've got a couple
of really big, big bodies in there and even their
guards very very physical players really crash, crashed the boards
and look for those rebounds. So we put ourselves on
(02:59):
physicality and we got this isn't a word, but we
got out physical in November. So we'll be looking at
that one around first and foremost. But then they've got
a very talented naturalized player justin Brownlee. He had thirty
nine points against Chinese Taipei last night, so slowing him
down is going to be another another major factor for us.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I'm going to add that word to the vocabulary out
for the court. I think we can. I think I
think we can make it a word. I've got no
problem with that. I know exactly what you mean. You've
already qualified for the Asian Cup, of course, so is
the goal to finish top of the pool to get
a better seating at the Asian Cup? Is that what
we're looking at?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Yeah, it is, it is so they we can, we
can if we win. Chinese Taypey did us a bit
of a favor by beating the Philippines last night or
two nights ago when whenever it was, and we don't
need to win by a margin. Now we win, and
we top our pool, which obviously gives us a slightly
easier path through the Asia Cup, which gives us which
(04:00):
then rolls onto World Cup qualifying campaign. So they all matter.
But to be honest, we we're playing in front of
a big house at Spark Arena, so we want to
get that one, get there one for all our fans
are going to be there.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you had a couple of debutants in the squad
Hawks bay Hawks youngster Jackson Ball just sixteen years old,
Canterbury Rams rising star Thomas Isaac, both in your squad
for the first time. Were were you able to get
minutes for those two guys?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
We were That's the beauty of going up, you know,
playing a team like Hong Kong. We could really spread
the minutes. Really really impressed with both of those guys.
You know, Jackson Ball sixteen years old. Like you say, like,
I don't know what you're doing when you're sixteen pinty,
but I certainly wasn't representing my country and making the
most of that opportunity. Was he was fantastic. And Tooma
(04:49):
Isaac actually, the eighteen year old from Chrissyich, he he
really came out and turned our defense around a little bit,
you know, really really got after the ball in the
full court and put their energy and effort they were
looking for out there. So really really pleased with both
of those kids. Bruck a head.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, I've seen a bit of Jackson Ball actually at
a couple of regional tournaments out of APR boys. Of course,
see a big block. He put a big block, and
I saw some social media footage of you know, during
your tall Blacks game. He could be anything, couldn't He.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
The world's oyster. The world is truly his oyster. He
does the simple things really well. He's got good size strengths,
shoots the ball very very well. Just one of just
one of a number of our really exciting junior group
at the moment. You know, we've got a we've got
a really a nice bubble of kids coming through, so
it's exciting to see them put on the Black jerseys
(05:42):
at a young age.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And at the other end of the experienced scale, Cory
Webster went to the series on ninety nine games for
New Zealand. Presumably you got him, got him one hundred
the other night, did you.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Well, Actually he didn't come up to Hong Kong with us.
He was we elected to rest his body a little
bit before the Philippines game. So he's going to raise
his hundred. So it should be a fun.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Occasion, good stuff. We'll look forward to that, Mike, thanks
for joining us on game day. Mike will Figit, assistant
coach of the Tour Blacks, who take on the Philippines
this afternoon at Spark Arena in Auckland. A bit of
social media around saying that that game has sold out.
Philippines basketball, it's their national sport, so they'll be I
think a number of Auckland based Philippines fans there. But yes, no,
(06:25):
I've had confirmation that game has sold out. Good stuff, terrific.
We don't get the chance to see the tour Blacks
a lot at home, do we? So good to know
that when that opportunity presents itself, that people will turn out.
And for Corey Webster, that'll be nice for him to
bring up one hundred games in the Black singlet in
front of a big and presumably raucous home crowd.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Basketball because the Tour Blacks have started the third window
of the Asia Cup Basketball qualifiers by dismantling their hosts
Hong Kong ninety two to fifty one, stops.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Inside, when goes up, throws it down for you with
some neat Will's passion. That is a professional performance by
New Zealand. They shot the ball incredibly well at times,
but defensively exceptional imposed themselves on Hong Kong shiner.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
At ninety two to fifty one. Jordan Nati top scoring
for New Zealand with twenty points. So New Zealander back
home now they play the Philippines this afternoon. It's Spark
Arena in Auckland, three o'clock tip off. Both sides have
won four and lost one of their matches and their campaigns.
They sit together on nine points to all. Blacks. Assistant
coach Michael Fitchett joins his heead of this game. First
(01:02):
of all, Michael, how happy were you and the coaching
staff with what played out in Hong Kong on Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Pretty happy, you know, to go and go away and
get a road win. By forty odd points as a
way satisfying, but we had a bit of a shaky
start defensively, We went really on the ball, so we
did have some feedback to give to the guys, which
is always nice.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
After a forty point one two absolutely well. The defensive
side of things looks on paper anyway pretty good twenty
four turnovers forced. But was it something that the team
grew into across the game the defensive performance.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, definitely. We gave up twenty one points in the
first quarter, which for us to give up to a
team like Hong Kong as too many. But we really
tightened the screws in the second, third, and fourth quarters.
So we're happy with the response. Just the start. If
we do that against the Philippines will be in we'll
be in a bit of strife early on.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
What about in an offensive scenes, did you achieve what
you wanted to?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
We did? We did with the sort of the focus
of the three days or the three practices over two
days leading into the game. When once we got up
to Hong Kong was really more about the offensive side
of the ball, and the guys were really good. We
kept it simple. We shot the ball really well, obviously
Jordan Natai six from seven from three, but we did
a good job getting to the room as well, and
(02:22):
Taylor Brett really ran the show for us. So we're
offensive side of the ball were pretty you know, a
lot of a lot of positives there.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So Box has ticked against Hong Kong. You mentioned the
Philippines there, What what do you expect from them and
how how much bigger of a challenge are they going
to be?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Yeah, it's it's a different kettle of fish, different standard
of opposition for sure. We lost them in November. And
their style of players super physical. They've got a couple
of really big, big bodies in there and even their
guards very very physical players really crash, crashed the boards
and look for those rebounds. So we put ourselves on
(02:59):
physicality and we got this isn't a word, but we
got out physical in November. So we'll be looking at
that one around first and foremost. But then they've got
a very talented naturalized player justin Brownlee. He had thirty
nine points against Chinese Taipei last night, so slowing him
down is going to be another another major factor for us.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I'm going to add that word to the vocabulary out
for the court. I think we can. I think I
think we can make it a word. I've got no
problem with that. I know exactly what you mean. You've
already qualified for the Asian Cup, of course, so is
the goal to finish top of the pool to get
a better seating at the Asian Cup? Is that what
we're looking at?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Yeah, it is, it is so they we can, we
can if we win. Chinese Taypey did us a bit
of a favor by beating the Philippines last night or
two nights ago when whenever it was, and we don't
need to win by a margin. Now we win, and
we top our pool, which obviously gives us a slightly
easier path through the Asia Cup, which gives us which
(04:00):
then rolls onto World Cup qualifying campaign. So they all matter.
But to be honest, we we're playing in front of
a big house at Spark Arena, so we want to
get that one, get there one for all our fans
are going to be there.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you had a couple of debutants in the squad
Hawks bay Hawks youngster Jackson Ball just sixteen years old,
Canterbury Rams rising star Thomas Isaac, both in your squad
for the first time. Were were you able to get
minutes for those two guys?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
We were That's the beauty of going up, you know,
playing a team like Hong Kong. We could really spread
the minutes. Really really impressed with both of those guys.
You know, Jackson Ball sixteen years old. Like you say, like,
I don't know what you're doing when you're sixteen pinty,
but I certainly wasn't representing my country and making the
most of that opportunity. Was he was fantastic. And Tooma
(04:49):
Isaac actually, the eighteen year old from Chrissyich, he he
really came out and turned our defense around a little bit,
you know, really really got after the ball in the
full court and put their energy and effort they were
looking for out there. So really really pleased with both
of those kids. Bruck a head.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, I've seen a bit of Jackson Ball actually at
a couple of regional tournaments out of APR boys. Of course,
see a big block. He put a big block, and
I saw some social media footage of you know, during
your tall Blacks game. He could be anything, couldn't He.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
The world's oyster. The world is truly his oyster. He
does the simple things really well. He's got good size strengths,
shoots the ball very very well. Just one of just
one of a number of our really exciting junior group
at the moment. You know, we've got a we've got
a really a nice bubble of kids coming through, so
it's exciting to see them put on the Black jerseys
(05:42):
at a young age.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And at the other end of the experienced scale, Cory
Webster went to the series on ninety nine games for
New Zealand. Presumably you got him, got him one hundred
the other night, did you.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Well, Actually he didn't come up to Hong Kong with us.
He was we elected to rest his body a little
bit before the Philippines game. So he's going to raise
his hundred. So it should be a fun.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Occasion, good stuff. We'll look forward to that, Mike, thanks
for joining us on game day. Mike will Figit, assistant
coach of the Tour Blacks, who take on the Philippines
this afternoon at Spark Arena in Auckland. A bit of
social media around saying that that game has sold out.
Philippines basketball, it's their national sport, so they'll be I
think a number of Auckland based Philippines fans there. But yes, no,
(06:25):
I've had confirmation that game has sold out. Good stuff, terrific.
We don't get the chance to see the tour Blacks
a lot at home, do we? So good to know
that when that opportunity presents itself, that people will turn out.
And for Corey Webster, that'll be nice for him to
bring up one hundred games in the Black singlet in
front of a big and presumably raucous home crowd.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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