Basketball: Classy Cameron in nick of time

Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin gave his captain a stiff talking-to in front of the team, challenging him to raise his performance after two losses against France on their European tour.

It worked like a dream yesterday as Pero Cameron charged out of the dogbox to lead the team to an historic first-time win, 81-79, over reigning world champions Yugoslavia in the Super Cup tournament in Braunschweig, Germany.

With 15 seconds to go, Cameron sank a three-pointer to give the Tall Blacks the lead, and they hung on to take the win.

"Three things kept coming through," reflected an elated Baldwin. "History, belief and Kiwi pride."

With 2min 26s left on the clock, Baldwin called for a timeout with the scoreboard reading Yugoslavia 76, New Zealand 73.

Cameron had just hit a three-pointer to bring his team within reach of the four-time world champions, who are currently ranked second in the world.

Baldwin had a simple question for his players to ponder during the timeout.

In the previous week, they had let two tests against France slip through their fingers, 86-80 and 97-92, in the final minutes.

"When would close enough not be good enough?" he asked.

Almost as one, the team gave their answer: "Now."

From a technical foul, Kirk Penney hit one of two free throws and then a jump shot on a subsequent possession to tie the scores at 76-all.

Yugoslav guard Igor Rakocevic hit a three to regain the initiative, but NBA forward Sean Marks converted a pass from Mark Dickel to bring the crowd to their feet and drag his team back to within a point.

A defensive stop gave them possession again and with 15.6s left, Cameron hit the biggest shot of his life, a three-pointer for the lead at 81-79.

The ball came back to the Tall Blacks' end of the court, a shot went up and bobbled around the basket before finally bouncing clear as the buzzer sounded.

Close enough had become history.

New Zealand basketball had its most notable moment last year when the Tall Blacks beat Australia to qualify for the world championships in Indianapolis this month.

But defeating the world champions represented a whole new level.

"From a tactical standpoint, we treated it like just another game," Baldwin said.

"But emotionally, we also knew we were playing the reigning world champions and we felt that.

"It was a case of looking at their offence and breaking it down. We knew they had great shooters, so we were trying to make sure they didn't get good looks."

Predrag Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings is one of the sport's best outside marksmen, having won the three-point shootout at this year's NBA All-Star weekend.

"We did a particularly good job keeping a hand up on him," Baldwin said.

"We changed our defence right throughout the game.

"It had an effect. I don't think they got comfortable, particularly in the second half.

"They were just coming off three losses and I felt if we could get them under pressure, they might not get across the finish line."

Dickel scored just two points for the game, but his four steals and 10 assists set the foundation for victory.

He wore markers down with his speed up the court and looked for others to provide the offence.

His team-mates did not let him down. Marks scored 27 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots.

Penney and Phill Jones, with 18 and 13 points respectively, both made big shots, but none as big as the two Cameron hit in the push to victory.

Cameron scored all his 12 points from long-distance and also secured seven rebounds among much taller opposition.

"We are trying to raise the bar and I really believe the performances against France did that for us," Baldwin said.

"Obviously, this win takes it up another super-notch.

"We can't win like this and expect people not to have expectations, but we must carry on preparing for the world championships."

Marks called the game "a huge win for New Zealand basketball".

With two games to go, against Germany early today and Olympic bronze medallists Lithuania tomorrow morning, Marks said the team would keep their focus.

"We didn't come here for one win. We are looking for a couple and to take that experience to the world championships."

After playing Lithuania the team will travel to Ontario for two warm-up games against Canada.

The world championships begin on August 29.

New Zealand 81 (Sean Marks 27, Kirk Penney 18, Phill Jones 13, Pero Cameron 12) Yugoslavia 79 (Dejan Koturovic 12, Predrag Stojakovic 11, Marko Jaric 10). HT: 33-43.

- NZPA