Basketball: Brazil too good for NZ again

A travel weary New Zealand continued to close the gap on their Brazilian rivals, but again fell just short in their opening game of the Super Four basketball tournament in Santa Fe, Argentina, today.

After dropping all four tests in Brazil, the Tall Blacks lost 79-83 and tomorrow face the losers of the Argentina-Venezuela clash.

New Zealand made a strong bid for victory, leading by as many as five points during a third quarter which they took out 25-22.

They were within two points with 10 minutes remaining, but could not close the match out.

"We really felt like the guys knuckled down and played really well," forward Dillon Boucher said.

"We just didn't finish well and were disappointed -- we really wanted to close it out this time."

New Zealand were a tired lot by the time they arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The team were due to fly out of Sao Paulo at 8pm yesterday, but the flight did not leave until 1.15am and finally arrived in Buenos Aires at about 5.30am.

Expecting a two-hour bus ride to Santa Fe, the Tall Blacks reached their destination after more than five hours, leaving the players virtually no time for meaningful sleep before the game.

"It was crazy -- we would have had the least amount of sleep you could possibly have before a game," Boucher said.

"Every flight we've had here has been delayed, but in all fairness, a lot of the stuff has been out of our control.

"We just dealt with it and didn't feel too much the worse for wear come game time.

"We had everything working against use, but we ended up playing well.

"We can't complain too much about things -- we just got on with the job."

Guard Kirk Penney continued to lead the Tall Blacks, with 20 points, matched by Cleveland Cavaliers centre Anderson Varejao for Brazil.

"We have felt like every game, we could have beaten Brazil," Boucher said.

"We just didn't do a few things, missed a few assignments and they punished us."

Better news for New Zealand was that point guard Mark Dickel came through his first game in almost two weeks with no apparent ill effects from his knee tendonitis.

The Tall Blacks' game tomorrow is timed for 9am (NZ time).

Scores:

Brazil 83 (Anderson Varejao 20)

New Zealand 79 (Kirk Penney 20, Craig Bradshaw 16, Casey Frank 10).

Halftime Brazil 37-32.

- NZPA