Basketball: Tall Blacks to face Australia in August

New Zealand's three-test Oceania men's basketball series against Australia will be played in Auckland and Dunedin in August. 

The first test on August 17 will be played in Waitakere and the second in Manukau. 

The third test on August 21 is in Dunedin, the first time for more than a decade that the Tall Blacks have played in the southern city.  

The series is a qualifying event for the 2006 world championships in Japan. Oceania have two spots in the 24-team field, so both Australia and New Zealand are assured of qualifying.  

It will determine who takes the top seeding from the zone and an easier draw at the championships.  

Last time the two countries faced each in a world championship qualifying series, the Tall Blacks stunned the Australians for their first series win and secured the sole Oceania berth for Indianapolis in 2002. 

There, they continued their giant-killing ways beating Russia, Venezuela, China and Puerto Rico en route to the semifinals, and subsequently captured the Halberg Award as the year's best New Zealand sporting performance. 

Their fourth placing was a major factor in the decision of Fiba, basketball's world governing body, to expand the world championship field from 16 to 24 teams and also earned Oceania a second spot at the 2004 Athens Olympics. 

Meanwhile, the New Zealand women's team are also preparing for a three-test series against Australia in August.  

The Tall Ferns, who reached the quarterfinals at the 2004 Olympic Games, take on the Olympic silver medallists in Palmerston North on August 24, Napier on August 27 and Te Awamutu the next day. 

Only one Ocenia spot is available for the women for their world championships in Brazil next year.  

Oceania series schedule:  

Men
August 17 at Trust Stadium, Waitakere
August 20 at Telstra Clear Pacific Events, Manukau
August 21 at Edgar Centre, Dunedin 

Women
August 24 at Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
August 27 at Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier
August 28 at Te Awamutu Events Centre, Te Awamutu 

- NZPA