Nenad’s Cup Glory
Tagged in: Tall Blacks
Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic enjoyed early success with his new Estonian club Kalev/Cramo, guiding them to victory in the Estonian Cup pre-season competition.
Last season’s national league runners-up overcame TTU KK 90-61 in the final with former New Zealand NBL star Josh Pace recording a double double of 15 points/11 rebounds.
Kalev cruised to the title game by defeating Kuremaa 85-75 in the quarterfinals and overwhelming Parnu 105-53 in the semis, after leading 59-18 at halftime.
Meanwhile, former national coach Tab Baldwin and his U-Mobitelco Cluj Napoca had an easy start to the Romanian national league, walking over Rapid Bucuresti 106-32 in their opening game.
Emerging Tall Black Leon Henry finished with 18 points (8/8 FG, 1/1 3pt, 1/2 FT) and six rebounds in 17 minutes as 2007/08 runners-up Mobitelco ran out to a 41-7 advantage in the opening quarter.
In Spain, Tall Black centre Craig Bradshaw led Grupo Begar Leon to a 61-51 win over Basquet Mallorca, scoring 14 points (6/7 FG, 2/4 FT) and grabbing five rebounds. Leon, relegated from the ACB last season, are 3-1 for the season, tied in second position on the LEB Gold competition.
Tall Fern Lisa Wallbutton also experienced a comfortable start to their Belgium women’s league, managing nine points in Dexia Namur’s 106-57 victory over newcomers Blue Cats Leper.
In Australia, Kiwi point guard Angela Marino helped champions Adelaide Lightning maintain their unbeaten start to the WNBL season, compiling 17 points (4/11 FG, 2/5 3pt, 7/8 FT), six assists, six rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes of a 97-65 win over Bendigo.
Ferns team-mate Natalie Purcell continued her good form for the expansion Logan Thunder with 16 points (5/13 FG, 4/9 3pt, 2/2 FT), six rebounds and a steal in a 48-63 road loss to Dandenong.
She also had eight points (3/11 FG, 1/8 3pt, 1/2 FT), three assists, a rebound and a steal in Logan’s 61-92 loss to Bulleen Boomers the next day. Kiwi shooter Lisa Pardon had 17 points (6/9 FG, 5/7 3pt) and four assists for Bulleen.
In the Australian men’s league, Tall Black point guard Lindsay Tait was on hand to boost Wollongong Hawks to an 85-82 win over Perth Wildcats.
Tait hit a baseline jumper to cap a 7-0 run that tied the scores at 82-82. Former Bay Hawks import Dusty Rychart hit a rare three pointer for the win.
Former NZ centre Tony Rampton helped Sydney Spirit to a pair of wins over the weekend, posting two points (1/2 FG), six rebounds and two blocks in a 98-92 road win over the winless Gold Coast Blaze.
Tall Black Casey Frank had 14 points (6/10 FG, 2/4 FT), six boards and two assists for the Blaze, while international captain Pero Cameron had six points and three rebounds.
