Basketball: Tall Blacks beaten by Spain

It was not the start the Tall Blacks were hoping for both on and off the court at the world basketball championships in Japan.

The kiwis have been beaten 86-70 by Spain in their opening pool match last night.

Kirk Penney top scored with 15 points.

The Tall Blacks' plight has not been helped by the sport's world governing body.

FIBA has suspended point guard Mark Dickel for another three matches, following his positive test for cannabis earlier this month.

This is despite the fact he has already served a two-match ban.

Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin is livid about the decision, saying Dickel has effectively been tried three times and that is not fair.

He says the team imposed the earlier two-game suspension, which he felt was quite harsh, but this has gone beyond that.

Dickel's new suspension means he will not be available for the Tall Blacks until their fourth pool match against Japan .

Australia produced the biggest upset on day one at the championships, beating highly fancied Brazil 83-77.

- NEWSTALK ZB