Basketball: Training camp performances leave some tough calls

By PETER JESSUP

Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin threw a couple of surprise packages into his Probables side for their trial against a Possibles team led by assistant Nenad Vucinic.

But changes are expected when he names his squad for the Australia series today.

Craig Bradshaw from Winthrop University in the United States, contesting a spot via his parentage, and Nelson guards Lance Baker and Mika Vukona were the newcomers to the top squad.

The rest are sitters for the three-test home series against the Boomers this week.

But there were some surprising names in the Possibles, including domestic league form guard Lindsay Tait from champions Auckland, indicating Baldwin wants to work the best against the next-best.

Forwards Brendon Polyblank and Mike Tompson from the Possibles side could also force their way into the 15-man squad for the Boomers games in Hamilton, Christchurch and Invercargill ahead of the three newcomers, depending what balance the coach is after.

Baldwin said he was pleased with the intensity of training. They had had only one 20-minute scrimmage and he halted it earlier than planned when things were getting heated; Bradshaw required stitches and others were bruised.

"I'm getting more than I expected," he said of the four-day camp in Whangarei. "Some of the camaraderie disappeared when we got to that scrimmage and guys realised this is their chance."

Three or four calls were too close to make before last night's trial at the Kensington Park stadium, he said.

"It will be a really tough call on some guys. The intensity we've had has been quite extraordinary. The established players have stood up but they are being pushed hard by the likes of Craig Bradshaw.

"Phill Jones used to get things his own way but it is being made much more difficult for him now and that's good for him and good for the team."

US college players Chris Reay and Calum McLeod were real prospects for the future, he said.

Baldwin, who hasn't coached since the 3-0 series loss to the Boomers in Oceania Olympic Games qualifying in Australia last year, expects a physical contest from the visitors and is pleased at the muscle he has been seeing from the forwards contesting for spots.

"My major concern over our big guys was that they weren't tough enough but that's changed - just in the last months that's changed dramatically."

The Boomers have a big advantage in preparation, having just completed a five-game tournament in Italy.

Baldwin felt the 3-0 series loss to the Tall Blacks the last time they were in New Zealand for world championships qualifying in 2001 would be a driver for them.

"They will have other motivation ahead of that but I'm sure it will be spoken about."

Captain Pero Cameron and main strike forward Tony Rampton have played restricted parts in the trainings in camp because of injury.

Point guard Paul Henare's knee injury is healing well. All three are expected to play against Australia.

Possible squad

Guards:

Paul Henare (Hawkes Bay), Mark Dickel (Fenerbache, Turkey), Lindsay Tait (Auckland), Aaron Olson (Auckland), Phill Jones (Nelson), Mika Vukona (Nelson), Lance Baker (Nelson).

Centres:

Pero Cameron (Waikato), Ed Book (Nelson).

Forwards:

Dillon Boucher (Auckland), Mike Tompson (Taranaki), Brendon Polyblank (Wellington), Craig Bradshaw (Winthrop University, US), Tony Rampton (Cairns).

Possible cuts - Mike Homik and Dan Barritt (Auckland), Ollie Hill (Waikato), Paora Winitana (Hawkes Bay), Mile Pearce (Manawatu/Hunter), Link Abrams (Taranaki), Troy McLean (Wellington), Ben Hill (Nelson), Nat Connell (Otago), Chris Reay and Callum McLeod (Southern Methodist and Gonzaga Unis, US).