That's a huge blow to the Tall BlacksOriginally Posted by carlo
ABERCROMBIE OUT
May 31, 2012
Tom Abercrombie (photosport)
Tom Abercrombie (photosport)
NZ Breakers basketball star Tom Abercrombie has withdrawn from this year’s Tall Blacks campaign to qualify for the London Olympics.
The high-flying forward had his wings clipped by an ankle injury during the final seconds of this year’s Australian NBL semifinals against Townsville and hobbled through the Breakers’ finals triumph at less than full capacity.
A scan has revealed a bone chip floating around ankle that needs surgery to repair and a 6-8 week recovery time.
“I started back training over the past couple of weeks, but it wasn’t improving like I thought it should,” he explains. “I still wasn’t able to do some things, so I had the scan done to check things out.
“This is something that needs to be taken care of at some stage, so I decided to get it done as soon as possible.
“If I tried to play on it, I wouldn’t be at 100 per cent and could aggravate it further. If I ran around on a broken wheel, trying to do my job, I just wouldn’t be performing up to the standard I demand of myself.
“I want to be at my very best and contribute in the ways I enjoy out on the court. I couldn’t do that during the finals series, so I want to make sure I get back to my best as soon as possible.”
The New Zealand national men’s team face a tough last-ditch FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Caracas, Venezuela, in July and coach Nenad Vucinic is faced with a mounting injury toll that also includes star scorer Kirk Penney.
“This is an important year for the Tall Blacks and it’s a devastating blow for me not to be part of that Olympic qualifying push,” says Abercrombie (24). “There’s nothing I can do about it – this needs to be done.”
Vucinic’s squad will assemble in Auckland on June 13 to begin their preparation for the 12-team qualifying tournament, which will determine who fills the final three spots in the London draw.
PENNY OUT
May 20,2012
Kirk Penney (Photosport)
Captain Kirk Penney has announced his withdrawal from the 2012 NZ Tall Blacks campaign due to injury.
Penney (31), who has represented New Zealand since 1999, tore a calf muscle while playing for Fuenlabrada while playing in the Spanish ACB and has opted for recovery instead of risking further damage during the Tall Blacks’ upcoming Olympic qualifying campaign.
“The decision ultimately comes down to my body,” he says. “I tore my calf and then tore it again trying to come back too early. This forced me to miss the last five games of my season in Spain.
“I’m rehabbing my injury, but won’t be ready for the Tall Blacks campaign this year.
“Representing New Zealand on the world stage is something I’ve always been honoured to do and not being able to play in an Olympic qualifying year is particularly tough. But I feel the team is in great hands with a fantastic coaching staff and young talent that keeps reaching new heights.”
Penney filled in as Tall Blacks captain in 2009 when incumbent Pero Cameron was unavailable and took over the role when Cameron retired to the coaching staff last year.
Over the past decade, he has emerged as a highly respected player in international basketball. In 2003, Penney became the second Kiwi – after Sean Marks – to appear in the NBA and has won championships in the NBA Development League, Israel, Lithuania and Australia.
He was Most Valuable Player of the Australian NBL in 2009 and led the NZ Breakers to their first title two years later.
The hot-shooting guard has appeared for the Tall Blacks to two Olympics and three world championships, and was the second-leading scorer overall (24.7 points) behind Argentine NBA star Luis Scola at the 2010 world championshps in Turkey.
“When you lose your best scorer from the the last several years, the impact on the team has to be big,” says Tall Blacks head coach Nenad Vucinic. “We’ll have to show strength and absorb this blow by everybody raising their level of performance.
“It could be a chance for others to step up, but it’ll also be a challenge for our coaching staff to adjust to the different look of our team.”
Vucinic is due to assemble his national squad early next month and will prepare the Tall Blacks for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Caracas, Venezuela, scheduled for July 2-8.
New Zealand faces Macedonia and Angola in pool play at the 12-team event with three spots still available in the London draw.
I can't see how the Tall Blacks will have a chance to qualify without Abercrombie and Penney...
Kevin Braswell and Marcel Jones need to acquire their citizenship prior this coming Sunday, June 10, 2012. Both men are in the provisional list and the team roster trials will begin in June 13.
Draft Wishlist:
PG Michael Carter-Williams / 21 yrs. old / 6'5
PF Livio Jean-Charles / 19 yrs. old / 6'9
Sacramento Kings 2013-14: THY KINGDOM COME
HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME
It's gonna be hard I know mate, the other players should step up, its kinda scary and exciting to see who will, Its up to the coach to chose replacements for both.I can't see how the Tall Blacks will have a chance to qualify without Abercrombie and Penney...
The provisional squad: Hayden Allen (Auckland Pirates), Josh Bloxham (Nelson Giants), Everard Bartlett (Bay Hawks), Kevin Braswell (Southland Sharks)*, Isaac Fotu (Harbour), Casey Frank (Wellington Saints), Leon Henry (Otago Nuggets), Marcel Jones (Manawatu Jets)*, Jeremy Kench (Wellington Saints), Jarrod Kenny (Bay Hawks), Robert Loe (University of Saint Louis), Morgan Natanahira (Bay Hawks), Alex Pledger (Auckland Pirates), Lindsay Tait (Auckland Pirates), Jeremiah Trueman (Manawatu Jets), Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants), Tai Webster (Auckland Pirates).
hope see that ''haka'' dance, i dont know if is the correct name... in our super 4 here in Brazil.
You should see it right before the game the start of the game... In official tournaments they definitely do the dance before the games but I don't know about non-official or friendly tournaments.
Marcel Jones is now eligible for the roster as Jones' NZ citizenship has been approved. Head coach Nenad Vucinic hopes that Kevin Braswell's application for citizenship be approved ASAP.
Draft Wishlist:
PG Michael Carter-Williams / 21 yrs. old / 6'5
PF Livio Jean-Charles / 19 yrs. old / 6'9
Sacramento Kings 2013-14: THY KINGDOM COME
HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME
NEWCOMERS IN TALLBLACKS LINE UP
Four players will make their Tall Blacks debuts as the roster to contest next month’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela has been determined by attrition.
When forward Isaac Fotu withdrew to prepare for his upcoming scholarship at University of Hawaii, coach Nenad Vucinic was left with just 12 candidates for 12 spots and no decisions left to make.
The team departs for Australia on Wednesday and Vucinic must now hope there are no more injuries or withdrawals before then.
“It hasn’t been an ideal process,” he admits. “We started with 24 players on our list, but we’ve had so many injuries this year and unavailability, there weren’t really too many guys to pick from.
“That’s unfortunate, but I’m still looking forward to this trip and the guys are very motivated.”
All four debutants are among guards, where the Tall Blacks have lost Mark Dickel, Mike Fitchett, Kirk Penney and Corey Webster from last year’s squad.
Teenager Tai Webster, viewed as more of a long-term prospect when the selection process began, will enter international basketball in similar circumstances to older brother Corey four years ago.
He turned 17 just a few days ago, making him one of the youngest ever selected for the Tall Blacks, and was a member of the New Zealand team that won the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Youth World Championship in Italy last year.
NZ Breakers development player Josh Bloxham (22) will get to show what he’s learned during the franchise’s two championship seasons.
“Initially, we probably didn’t intend to go this deep, but with all the injuries, they have their chance,” says Vucinic. “We’re very pleased with what Tai showed us during the trials and would have gone close even if there had been more players – I believe you always have to have players for experience and the future.”
After more than a decade on the fringe, veteran Hayden Allen (32) will finally follow father Glen into the national team. Allen’s promotion comes less than a year after surviving a near-fatal car accident.
“Hayden has been one of the unluckiest players in terms of selection, because he was always playing behind great players like Kirk Penney and Phill Jones, who kept him out of the team,” says Vucinic. “It’s really pleasing for us coaches that he’ll be there.”
Everard Bartlett is another who’s been close to making the Tall Blacks for several seasons and showed dramatic improvement in the Australian NBL over the past 18 months.
“Everard is still a young player and this is another level up, but he should feel confident that he belongs here.”
In the end, the biggest decision Vucinic, along with assistant coaches Pero Cameron and Paul Henare, had to make was who should fill the one naturalised spot available on the roster. That position has gone to incumbent Casey Frank, who beat out the challenges of guard Kevin Braswell and forward Marcel Jones.
Braswell, a former Breakers import, never really got the opportunity to push his case after he was unable to secure NZ citizenship in time.
Although Jones, a small forward with the Manawatu Jets, was sworn in by the Department of Internal Affairs on Thursday, Vucinic has decided he needs Frank’s experience more.
“Casey has been with us for some time and knows what we need,” says Vucinic. “We have some very promising, big Kiwis coming through, but they are a little short of experience right now – Casey gives us that.”
Frank arrived in New Zealand 10 years ago as an import for the Auckland Stars and has stayed ever since. He made his Tall Blacks debut in 2005 and gained his citizenship in time for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games the following year.
The 2012 Tall Blacks team are:
Hayden Allen (Auckland Pirates), Josh Bloxham (Nelson Giants), Everard Bartlett (Bay Hawks), Casey Frank (Wellington Saints), Leon Henry (Otago Nuggets), Jarrod Kenny (Bay Hawks), Robert Loe (St Louis University, US), Alex Pledger (Auckland Pirates), Lindsay Tait (Auckland Pirates), Jeremiah Trueman (Manawatu Jets), Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants), Tai Webster (Auckland Pirates)
They will contest the OQT in Caracas from July 2-8, hoping to earn one of three spots still remaining in the men’s draw at London. New Zealand faces Macedonia and Angola in pool play.
2012 Tall Blacks Media Kit
I think New Zeland is not as strong as other teams in the tournament,but she is in the
easiest group.
Tai Webster will be attending Nebraska.
http://www.1011now.com/sports/headli...182083611.html
Draft Wishlist:
PG Michael Carter-Williams / 21 yrs. old / 6'5
PF Livio Jean-Charles / 19 yrs. old / 6'9
Sacramento Kings 2013-14: THY KINGDOM COME
HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME
There are reports stating that The Tall Blacks are considering to naturalise former Cleveland Cavaliers and NZ Breakers import Cedric Jackson. Jackson said in an interview with the NZ Herald that he is open to that possibility.
Draft Wishlist:
PG Michael Carter-Williams / 21 yrs. old / 6'5
PF Livio Jean-Charles / 19 yrs. old / 6'9
Sacramento Kings 2013-14: THY KINGDOM COME
HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME
Kirk Penney is still undecided for the summer but will make a decision after the end of Ankara Kolejliler's season in the Turkish Basketball League.
Draft Wishlist:
PG Michael Carter-Williams / 21 yrs. old / 6'5
PF Livio Jean-Charles / 19 yrs. old / 6'9
Sacramento Kings 2013-14: THY KINGDOM COME
HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME
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