Basketball: Brazil pulls out of tournament with Tall Blacks in China

The Tall Blacks will have to wait and see who they play next month in China after Brazil pulled out of the four-nation tournament.

The tournament, which was to involve New Zealand, China, Lithuania and Brazil, will still go ahead but the fourth team is yet to be confirmed.

Basketball New Zealand spokesman Grant Chapman told NZPA the Tall Blacks did not know who they would have to play in China instead of Brazil.

``They've invited an American team to take their place but I don't know what the composition of that team would be -- in fact I don't even know if the Americans have accepted the invitation yet.''

There was no question of the Tall Blacks also pulling out.

Chapman said an industrial dispute between the players and the federation was behind Brazil's decision. ``It's disappointing not to have another national team in there but as I say, we don't really know who they're (America) going to send -- we may end up playing their best team.''

The July series in China will act as the first leg of the build-up to the Tall Blacks Oceania series in New Zealand against Australia.

After the China trip, the Tall Blacks will travel to Australia for another four-nation tournament -- against Australia, China and Lithuania.

Chapman said the tournament in China would still be a test for the Tall Blacks. ``They were both at the Olympics and Lithuania were in the semi-finals.

``(New Zealand coach) Tab Baldwin has just had a training camp in Auckland and he's been describing Lithuania as in his opinion, the best team in the world.''

The Tall Blacks travel to China on July 13, play in the Australian four-nations tournament from August 9 until August 14, then return home for the Oceania home series against Australia with games on August 17, 20 and 21.

The winners of that series will qualify for next year's world championships with top seeding from the zone.

Meanwhile, Basketball Australia say their four-nation tournament will be an annual event involving them, China and two other invited teams -- this year including New Zealand.

Tournament organisers hope the event will boast two NBA players in Australia's Andrew Bogut -- expected to be first or second choice in next week's NBA draft -- and China's Yao Ming.

While the two players have not confirmed their attendance at the tournament, the event has been scheduled to allow for them both to make the trip to Australia.

- NZPA