Ferns For Sneaky Peak
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2007/11/angela-marino-fiba-edit.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943
Still awaiting their fate at the hands of the NZOC selectors, the NZ Tall Ferns have accepted an invitation to contest the pre-Olympic basketball test event in Beijing next April 19-26.
Games organizers have assembled a strong six-team field of which the Ferns are the lowest ranked at 16th in the world.
Also entered are defending Olympic champions the United States (world #1), reigning world champions Australia (#2), hosts China (#10), Korea (#7) and Cuba (#8), the only country yet to qualify for the Games.
ìPlaying teams of this calibre at the Olympic venue is a fantastic opportunity,î says Tall Fern coach Mike McHugh. ìWeíre in pretty exalted company and it shows weíre now pretty highly regarded internationally.
ìCertainly, we would never have gotten an invitation like this before Athens four years ago.î
The Tall Ferns were a controversial selection for the last Olympics, but confounded their critics by winning through to the quarterfinals with pool victories over China and Korea.
Since then, the rebuilding womenís squad have won silver medals at last yearís Melbourne Commonwealth Games, beaten world #12 Argentina and qualified for Beijing by beating Fiji at the FIBA Oceania Championships in September.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee are expected to rule this month on whether the Ferns have done enough to earn a berth at next yearís sporting festival.
ìWe believe we are putting together a programme to repeat our top-eight finish in Athens,î says BBNZ national teams general manager Grant Chapman.
ìThis team could consolidate a spot in the worldís top 10 over the next five years and they have a strong chance of pushing that claim at the Olympics if given the chance.î
