Basketball: Bring on Puerto Ricans say Tall Blacks

By JENNI RUTHERFORD in Indianapolis

New Zealand confounded the pundits again when they gained a quarter-final spot at the world championships yesterday.

From under the blowtorch, New Zealand emerged 94-88 victors over China to progress to a final-eight clash with Puerto Rico at 1pm (NZ time) today.

In the other quarter-finals, Argentina will meet Brazil, Germany take on Spain and the United States face Yugoslavia.

The Tall Blacks were faced with the daunting task of toppling a giant Chinese side for their third victory of the tournament, and relying on Germany to dispose of Russia - and both results fell their way.

They had a 30-minute wait before the result of the Germany-Russia clash came through, and it was all good news, with the Germans winning 103-85.

New Zealand narrowly avoided missing a tougher quarter-final, against Spain, after Puerto Rico, at their 10th world championships, beat Angola 89-87 in double overtime for their fifth win out of six at the tournament.

For New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin, the triumph over China lifted a weight from his shoulders, albeit for 24 hours before the quarter-final.

"It is probably the first time in my coaching career that I felt a lot of pressure today," Baldwin said.

"It is pressure born of a country that is desperate to believe in their sportsmen and women, and this team did something special.

"There is nothing better than a celebration in New Zealand and we want to give them some more."

As for their opponents today, Baldwin admitted that another restless night was in store.

"Puerto Rico have had a wonderful tournament. They have surprised a lot of people ... They are physically tough and athletic.

"For us, we have to sit down and do all of our video analysis, lose another night's sleep and build a game plan."

It is doubtful whether New Zealand's sole NBA player, Sean Marks, will make today's match. Still resting an eye injury, Marks is to visit a specialist this morning.

The Tall Blacks' dream run looked to have hit a wall at the end of the first quarter when they trailed 35-13, but in typical style they clawed their way back.

Forward Phill Jones made his biggest contribution of the tournament, scoring 33 points, 18 of them from the three-point arc.

After relatively average returns until yesterday, Jones, with the help of Kirk Penney's 19-point haul, resurrected New Zealand's mission.

Captain Pero Cameron proved his worth as a genuine allrounder, with his hustle forcing many of China's 23 turnovers.

China held a huge height advantage and, with a 3-1 record against the Tall Blacks since the Sydney Olympics, were the comfortable favourites.

The Asian champions were boosted by 2.26m giant Yao Ming, who will play his rookie NBA season with the Houston Rockets, and the in-form Menke Bateer, a 2.10m centre with the Denver Nuggets.

But coach Wang Fei's decision to rest Yao for the second quarter and for prolonged periods of the fourth killed off China's chances.

Yao returned perfect shooting statistics for his 27 points, and forward Lin Nan finished with 33 points, but it was not enough.

When New Zealand gained an 82-81 lead through Cameron with 4m 30s left on the clock, they were not about to let it slip.

"We weren't close to the more efficient team," Baldwin said, "but we were the harder-working team. That hard work paid off."

The Tall Blacks made a sombre start as China jogged to a 15-point lead in the first quarter, which bulged to 22 by the break.

New Zealand lacked spark, but managed to claw their way back by halftime, when they had reduced the deficit to nine points, 52-43.

They gained their first whiff of a quarter-final chance as Jones sank consecutive three-pointers during the third quarter, in which New Zealand outpointed China 30-17.

New Zealand first beat China in the third test of their tour to that country in June by 100-85 and, according to Baldwin, the Chinese were stronger here.

- NZPA

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