Basketball: Cameron's calf survives the series

1.00pm - By MARTYN WATTERSON

It was the most talked about body part in New Zealand basketball circles all week.

Speculation over the state of Pero Cameron's calf muscle dominated the headlines heading into the three-test series against arch rivals Australia that concluded here yesterday.

The 30-year-old skipper was a doubtful starter after tearing the muscle -- which in size resembles a watermelon -- in the Waikato Titans' final National Basketball League match last month.

He barely participated in the Tall Blacks pre-series training camp in Whangarei, but was finally named on the day of the first test on Friday.

He eventually started in all three games with the 1.98m 120kg behemoth showed glimpses of the form that got him selected for the 2002 world championship team.

The tourists won the third test 90-79 to claim the series 2-1, but the sight of Cameron, who scored 44 points in the series, heartened coach Tab Baldwin and basketball fans with the Olympics closing quickly.

"The last 10 days have been huge," Cameron said.

"It's pretty good to be here but I've got a long way to go if I want to have an impact on the Olympics."

Although the forward quickly swats aside suggestions his fitness was crucial to the Tall Blacks success in Athens, Cameron's influence was clearly evident in yesterday's match.

In the third quarter when the home side rallied to paste 28 points on the Boomers, Cameron was at the forefront making steals, snatching rebounds, shunting the Aussie defenders all while keeping the scorers busy.

The challenge now facing Cameron five weeks from the Games is to nurse the injury and increase his fitness so he can play in all five pool matches.

"I know I'm going to kill myself doing the training, but results are what matters at the Olympics and we have big expectations on ourselves.

"The calf muscle is the main focus. A week ago I wasn't even going to play, but I pressed on and I'm glad I played because it did me a world of good to play with this group.

"It's hard when you don't play and when you get to the big show our success is all on team chemistry.

"As a team it's the only way we can succeed."

Cameron played for at least 20 minutes in each test and clocked 26 minutes in yesterday's finale, but Baldwin also dismissed claims that Cameron's on-court presence was essential to a winning Tall Blacks side.

"I love him like a brother but the last thing I want to do is make a big deal about what Pero Cameron does on the basketball court because it's what he does off the court that's going to make the difference," Baldwin said.

"He's capable of great things on the court but to see flashes of it is not enough for me. I want to be able to play him for 40 minutes if I have to.

"The pressure is on Pero not to give me a quarter but two weeks of that form at the Games and the same applies for everybody else.

"Pero's fitness is improving and if he doesn't get injured I'll say he'll almost be unrecognisable in Athens time because we are going to work him like he's never been worked in his life."

- NZPA