Basketball: Penney may miss Olympic bid

ISTANBUL - New Zealand guard Kirk Penney's signing for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves may rule him out of the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament, depending on the conditions of his contract.

Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin, whose team are to play Latvia today in the playoff for fifth and sixth at the Six Nations tournament in Istanbul, had not heard from Penney since the news broke.

New Zealand are expecting to meet starting point guard Mark Dickel, who has negotiated a release from his Belgian club Oostende, in Australia, but are still unsure whether Penney will be part of the Tall Blacks team who will play Australia next month for the top Oceania spot at the Athens Olympics next year.

"We don't know yet," Baldwin said.

"I don't think [Kirk] foresaw signing before the veterans' camp. He said he couldn't give us 100 per cent assurance because he said, 'I just don't know what could happen'."

Penney made himself unavailable for the Istanbul tournament, deciding instead to return to the United States.

Baldwin said there was a buzz among the Tall Blacks at the news that the likeable, down-to-earth 22-year-old had achieved his goal.

"For the last 10 years of his life, if not more, Kirk has wanted this."

Baldwin, who is looking ahead to the Olympics next year, does not foresee much trouble with the club freeing Penney for build-up games yet to be organised for the Olympics.

"All the NBA guys are [at Istanbul with their national sides] so Kirk's theoretically no different.

"All NBA contracts have a 'freedom to play' clause and also there is an agreement with FIBA and the NBA that players be released for international duty.

"There are those things that if a player wants to execute them he can, but of course if it puts him in conflict with the [NBA] team, then he'll get off-side with the team."

Penney, who captained the University of Wisconsin Badgers this year, missed being picked up in the NBA draft, but Baldwin said things may have worked out better this way.

"He is in an area of the country he is used to and he will get a lot of regional support. In certain situations it is good not to be drafted because the draft doesn't guarantee you anything."

New Zealand, who trained hard on their off-day yesterday, will be hoping to finish the tournament out of the wooden spoon position against Latvia, a team who beat Australia 98-85 recently.

A poor second half against Italy cost New Zealand a place in the semifinals.

New Zealand improved their defensive effort from their opening-round loss to Serbia and Montenegro, but were undone by dismal shooting as they were beaten 69-53 by Italy.

New Zealand appeared up to the challenge early on, leading 20-17 at the first quarter and holding 34-all at the halftime break.

But they faded badly in the second 20 minutes. New Zealand only managed to score a collective 19 points in the second half, including just six in the last quarter, to Italy's 35.

Ed Book, New Zealand's top scorer with 12 points, said the side still had work to do before they get to Australia for the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament.

Meanwhile, world champions Serbia and Montenegro were beaten 90-88 by hosts Turkey in a thrilling semifinal at the Six Nations tournament.

NBA All Star Predrag Stojakovic scored 30 points, but it was not enough to curb the pumped-up Turks. They will now meet New Italy in the final.

The Italians also caused an upset, defeating pool A winners Russia 80-71.

- NZPA