Basketball New Zealand

Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic (Photosport)

Facing four games in seven days mattered little for Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic in Estonia.

After being eliminated from the Baltic Basketball League playoffs in agonising fashion, Vucinic’s BC Kalev/Cramo side has gone on a tear domestically, winning four straight in the Estonian KML, including an emphatic win drenched in revenge.

Less than a week after losing to TU/Rock on an overtime buzzer-beater in the BBL quarters, Kalev crushed their traditional rivals 88-61 at home on Wednesday, and followed with three more convincing wins over Easter.

With a 115-84 road win at Kuremaa SK on Friday, 91-73 road win at BC Rakvere Tarvas on Saturday and 117-75 home win against KK Parnu on Tuesday, Kalev moved to 21-5, still second, three games behind TU/Rock as the KML playoffs approach.

In Germany, Harbour Heat forward BJ Anthony produced 16 points (6/9 FG, 4/6 FT) and four rebounds in 23 minutes as his Herzoge Wolfenbuttel side fell 75-70 at home to Dragons Rhondorf in round 28 of the Bundesliga D2-Pro B on Sunday.

Wolfenbuttel’s chance at finishing number one during the regular season slipped with the loss, leaving them second at 21-7.

Tall Blacks centre Craig Bradshaw managed eight points (4/9 FG), a pair of rebounds and a steal in 20 minutes as Grupo Begar Leon lost 80-76 at home to Beirasar Rosalia in round 28 of the LEB Gold in Spain on Friday. Leon dropped to 10th at 14-14 with the loss.

In Romania, the Divizia A playoffs start for Wellington Saints forward Leon Henry and former Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin with U Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca later this week, with game one of their quarterfinals series at CSU Atlassib Sibiu on Friday.