New Zealand secure first win in Turkey
New Zealand have finally tasted victory in the ongoing FIBA World Championships in Turkey. The Tall Blacks relied on their prolific start to crush Lebanon, 108-76, in their Group D encounter at the Halkapinar Sports Hall in Izmir.
Led by the New Zealand Breakers duo of Thomas Abercrombie and Mika Vukona, the Kiwis built double-digit leads midway in the first quarter. A Phill Jones basket gave New Zealand an 18-point lead before Ali Kanaan responded for the Lebanese as the quarter ended at 32-16. Abercrombie scored 10 points while Vukona added seven. Lebanon played more aggressive in the second period and trimmed New Zealand's lead to 22-34 with seven minutes and 52 seconds remaining.
But New Zealand countered with their own run to increase their lead again. A three-pointer from Kirk Penney gave New Zealand a 49-32 cushion before Abercrombie closed out the quarter with another basket to give the Tall Blacks a 51-32 half-time lead.
Just like in the second period, the Lebanese were the aggressors early in the third. Back-to-back treys from Rony Fahed put Tab Baldwin's wards within 16, 38-54, at the 8:02 mark. But New Zealand responded with a 6-0 run to increase their lead to 22. Another 10-2 run gave the Tall Blacks a commanding 70-42 lead. New Zealand entered the final quarter with an 81-56 advantage.
Abercrombie, Penney and Lindsay Tait carried most of the offensive load for New Zealand in the final quarter as they further increased their lead.
Penney led all scorers with 26 points while Abercrombie finished with 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Four other Kiwis scored in double digits. Jones scored 13 points, Tait made 12, Vukona had 11 while forward Craig Bradshaw had 10 points and six rebounds. Vukona and Jones also had four assists each. Veteran forward Casey Frank also played well, scoring eight points and grabbing three boards.
Fadi El Khatib led Lebanon with 18 points and seven rebounds. Fahed and Jean Abdel-Nour added 12 points each while former National Basketball Association player Jackson Vroman contributed 10 and hauled down six rebounds.
New Zealand, coached by Serbian Nenad Vucinic, improved to 1-2 to tie Lebanon in third spot. The Tall Blacks kicked off their campaign with back-to-back losses against Lithuania (79-92) and defending champions Spain (84-101). They will next play Canada tomorrow. Lebanon suffered their second straight defeat after winning their opening assignment against Canada, 81-71. The Lebanese lost to France, 59-86, in their second outing. Their next assignment is against Spain.
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