A FORMER player of Tab Baldwin and a two-time Converge import make up the New Zealand team that will battle Gilas Pilipinas on Thursday in the second window opener of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
The No. 22 ranked Tall Blacks will have a new man calling the shots from the sidelines in Judd Flavell after taking over the job from former teammate Pero Cameron last August.
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Cameron left his post to take over the head-coaching position of the Ningbo Rockets in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Flavell, 50, played for the Tall Blacks from 1999 to 2002 and was part of the team that reached the semifinals of the 2002 FIBA World Cup in Indianapolis coached by Baldwin.
In his first foray as head coach of the New Zealand men’s team, he named a 13-man roster that faces Gilas Pilipinas at the Mall of Asia Arena on Nov. 21 including Tom Vodanovich, who suited up for Converge during the 2023 Governors’ Cup and 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup.
Also included by Flavell in the team are Corey Webster, Taylor Britt, Kaia Isaac, Flyn Cameron, Izayah Mauriohooho Le’afa, Walter Brown, Hyrum Harris, Oscar Goodman, Max Darling, Sam Mennenga, Sam Waardenburg, and Tyrell Harrison.
Cameron, Le’afa, Britt, Harris, and Brown were part of the New Zealand team that placed 22nd in last year’s FIBA World Cup in Manila.
Webster, who started playing for the Tall Blacks as a teenager, has been named team captain.
“Selecting this first group for the upcoming Asia Cup qualifiers is another exciting step for me on a personal level, and one I don’t take for granted as someone who has been in their shoes waiting for that phone call,” said Flavell.
The new Tall Blacks coach is familiar with most of the players, having handled them in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) and during his stint as coach of the Junior Tall Blacks and as deputy of the men’s team prior to his assumption to head coach.
“I love that there are so many full circle moments, opportunities for me to work again with so many in this group. I have coached most of them in different environments and at different stages of their careers. To call them together as Tall Blacks is a really proud moment now for me as head coach,” added Flavell.
The Tall Blacks will be going to their 7:30 match with Gilas tied with the host on top of Group B with similar 2-0 slates.
But New Zealand holds a 4-0 edge against the Philippines in their head-to-head matchup after beating a Gilas side coached by Baldwin during the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, 89-80; in the opening round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers twice, 88-63 in Manila, and 106-60, in Auckland, and in the 2022 Asia Cup, 92-75.
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