Basketball: Cameron sits out Puerto Rico match

1.00pm

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - The New Zealand men's basketball team were without serious height and experience for today's second game against Puerto Rico.

The Tall Blacks lost the match 110-85.

Captain Pero Cameron joined Sean Marks, who has contractual issues with his US National Basketball Association side San Antonio, and Tony Rampton, who has a fractured thumb, on the sidelines.

Cameron, a joint top scorer with 20 points in the Tall Blacks' 90-84 win on Monday, decided not to risk aggravating an already temperamental injury which gives him soreness to his right calf muscle and jeopardise his Olympic campaign which starts against Italy on August 15.

"It's starting to get tight so it's better to rest it now," he said.

"Although these games are important, it's in Athens that it counts."

Of concern is Nelson's Ed Book. The 2.10m centre tore fibres in his patella during the game against Puerto Rico.

He has had his knee wrapped in ice for yesterday's and today's training sessions.

With Cameron, Marks and Rampton definitely out, Book may have to play, though it will probably be limited as his movement is impaired.

The American-born player says he is not too worried about it at the moment and that rest was the best cure for the problem.

Forward Brendon Polyblank is also under an injury cloud with bruising to his feet making playing very painful.

On the plus side, shooting guard Kirk Penney is available after joining the team yesterday, though he is yet to get up to speed on the New Zealand playing systems.

Penney's presence will give coach Tab Baldwin a healthy option at the top of the keyhole with Phill Jones, a combination that worked well in Indianapolis.

Aaron Olson's all round game in the same position will provide good cover.

Puerto Rico 110 (Sharif Fajardo 25, Christian Dalmau 20, Larry Ayuso 18, Rick Apodaca 14, Jose Ortiz 10, Eddie Casiano 10) New Zealand 85 (Kirk Penney 24, Phill Jones 19).

Halftime: 59-39.

- NZPA