Basketball New Zealand

December 16, 2009

In terms of renewing old acquaintances, Tall Black shooter Kirk Penney has seen his prayers answered by the FIBA World Championship for Men draw in Istanbul last night.

The Burger King NZ Breakers guard has played extensively in Europe, including stints in both the Spain and Lithuania. Both those nations have landed in Pool D, along with the Kiwis, France, Canada and Lebanon.

“I wouldn’t say Christmas has come early,” he says. “I still would have liked a crack at the United States, but I know a lot of guys in the Lithuanian team, especially point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, who is a world leader in that position.

“I also played in Spain and got to know all those guys. We played them pretty tough at the last world championships, but they have been together for a lot of years and play incredibly well together.”

The draw result has probably treated the Tall Blacks as well as they could have expected given their surprisingly low seeding. Lebanon, ranked 24th in the world, is probably the toughest of the teams rated below New Zealand, but were dispatched in Canada last year en route to the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament.

Of the teams rated above them, the Tall Blacks would probably rate their chances best against the Canadians, whom they also beat in Toronto last July.

“They are obviously the lower-ranked teams … they’re very tough teams, but I think they are beatable for us. Even a France … let’s put our best foot forward and see what happens.

“Most of all, it is just great to see the draw and see the challenge at hand. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Penney was also intrigued by the playing schedule, which only became clearer today. The Tall Blacks will tip off against Lithuania on August 28, then Spain, a rest day, Lebanon, Canada and France.

“Little things, like where the games are placed, can be very important … like what players get hurt. We found that in Indianapolis.

“This is a good pool and a good draw.”

The full pool schedule is …

Saturday, August 28

Kayseri
A1 Angola v Serbia
A2 Germany v Argentina
A3 Australia v Jordan

Istanbul
B1 USA v Croatia
B2 Iran v Brazil
B3 Tunisia v Slovenia

Ankara
C1 Greece v China
C2 Cote d’Ivoire v Turkey
C3 Russia v Puerto Rico

Izmir
D1 New Zealand v Lithuania
D2 Canada v Lebanon
D3 France v Spain

Sunday, August 29

Kayseri
A4 Serbia v Germany
A5 Jordan v Angola
A6 Argentina v Australia

Istanbul
B4 Croatia v Iran
B5 Slovenia v USA
B6 Brazil v Tunisia

Ankara
C4 China v Cote d’Ivoire
C5 Puerto Rico v Greece
C6 Turkey v Russia

Izmir
D4 Lithuania v Canada
D5 Spain v New Zealand
D6 Lebanon v France

Monday, August 30

Kayseri
A7 Jordan v Serbia
A8 Australia v Germany
A9 Angola v Argentina

Istanbul
B7 Slovenia v Croatia
B8 Tunisia v Iran
B9 USA v Brazil

Tuesday, August 31

Ankara
C7 Puerto Rico v China
C8 Russia v Cote d’Ivoire
C9 Greece v Turkey

Izmir
D7 Spain v Lithuania
D8 France v Canada
D9 New Zealand v Lebanon

Wednesday, September 1

Kayseri
A10 Serbia v Australia
A11 Argentina v Jordan
A12 Germany v Angola

Istanbul
B10 Croatia v Tunisia
B11 Brazil v Slovenia
B12 Iran v USA

Ankara
C10 China v Russia
C11 Turkey v Puerto Rico
C12 Cote d’Ivoire v Greece

Izmir
D10 Lithuania v France
D11 Lebanon v Spain
D12 Canada v New Zealand

Thursday, September 2

Kayseri
A13 Argentina v Serbia
A14 Angola v Australia
A15 Jordan v Germany

Istanbul
B13 Brazil v Croatia
B14 USA v Tunisia
B15 Slovenia v Iran

Ankara
C13 Turkey v China
C14 Greece v Russia
C15 Puerto Rico v Cote d’Ivoire

Izmir
D13 Lebanon v Lithuania
D14 New Zealand v France
D15 Spain v Canada