New Zealand 3x3 teams make statement at ILT Stadium Southland
“This series for us was part of our progression into the 2024 Olympic Qualifying events, so fingers crossed that we find out soon if we’ve earned enough FIBA ranking points."
Basketball New Zealand is hopeful its three-on-three teams remain in with a shot at next year’s Olympics after toppling Australia in a series in Invercargill.
New Zealand has emerged victorious from the inaugural 3x3 Trans-Tasman 8-game Series, with both the 3x3 Tall Blacks and 3x3 Tall Ferns knocking over Australia.
The New Zealand men’s team finished the series played over four days with a 7-1 record.
Their ability to shoot the outside shot proved the difference-maker in this series. The Kiwis hit 41 shots from downtown compared to just 21 for the Aussies.
In his 3x3 national team debut, Taki Fahrensohn was named the Men’s Series MVP; the 24-year-old leading the 3x3 Tall Blacks in scoring (7ppg) and rebounds (4.1rpg) while hitting a series-high 15 shots from outside the arc.
Taki scored a series-high 13 points in New Zealand’s huge game 3 win.
3x3 Tall Blacks captain Dom Kelman-Poto paid tribute to his squad following the series win.
“Shout-out to the team, they worked hard this whole week and I owe all of our success to them. And thanks to Australia, we appreciate them coming out and giving us a run for our money – they played hard and physical,” Kelman-Poto said.
Denhym Brooke agreed.
“Yeah it’s physical but it’s all good, we enjoy it and that’s what we’re built for; we like the physicality, it’s why we [like to] play 3x3 basketball instead of 5 on 5.”
The 3x3 Tall Ferns faced a sterner challenge from the Australia Gangurru’s in the women’s series, only securing their series win in the eighth and final game to finish with a 5-3 record.
The Kiwis averaged 14.75 points per game against Australia’s 12.5ppg, winning the series thanks to their superior rebounding (19.4 boards per game compared to 16.6 for their opponents) and outside shooting – hitting 19 shots from downtown while holding the Aussies to just 9 from outside.
Playing in all 8 games, Chevannah Paalvast was named the Women’s Series MVP. The 32-year-old led the 3x3 Tall Ferns in total points (35), rebounds (4.9rpg) and blocks (6).
Chevannah had arguably her best game – 6 points & 7 rebounds - in the 3x3 Tall Ferns series-clinching Game 8 victory.
Lauryn Hippolite joined her teammates in relishing the series victory, saying that the final two games demanded them to play at their highest level in order to get the win.
“We just focussed on us and our game, [the Aussies] were down to three people but they’re going to go hard to the very end; so, we just focussed on ours and every day we got a little bit better – which showed in our last game.”
Paalvast added that it is always a big moment to beat Australia – one of the world’s basketball powerhouses.
“It’s not often New Zealand gets to beat Australia [in 3x3], so when we do it’s a good feeling.”
2BBNZ 3×3 Programme Manager Nikolay Mikhalchuk hoped the 3x3 Trans-Tasman Series would become an annual contest.
“Australia loved it, they want to come back and they can’t wait for another opportunity to take us on. They told us they enjoyed the games and how close and competitive they were, and they want to win the next series against us.”
With the 2024 Paris Olympics in sight for the 3x3 Tall Ferns and 3x3 Tall Blacks, Mikhalchuk said the teams will now wait to see if they have done enough to progress to the next step – the Olympic Qualifier tournaments.
“This series for us was part of our progression into the 2024 Olympic Qualifying events, so fingers crossed that we find out soon if we’ve earned enough FIBA ranking points to be invited to the next stage of qualification.”
Meanwhile, the Southland Sharks were unable to make it three straight titles in the National 3x3 Cup also played over four days at ILT Stadium Southland.
The Sharks put themselves in a strong position but lost to the Wellington Saints in the semifinal.
The Canterbury Rams ended up beating the Saints in the decider on Saturday night.
The Southland Storm finished ninth in the women’s competition.