POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Rodrigue Tetainanuarii
Australia - New Zealand 69:47
Australia handled New Zealand the first loss at the Oceania tournament in Saipan. The Aussie team held off their archrivals in the opening game of the mens section today. Australia thus improved at 3-0 record in the tournament. New Zealand slipped at 1-1 in the meantime.
Australia grabbed the early lead as they capitalized on numerous mistakes from New Zealand. Australia enjoyed a 19:8 lead at the first intermission but the Kiwis adjusted in the second frame. They held their opponents to only 4 made field goals and clipped the margin to 9 points at halftime. But the intrigue was buried in the third frame. Australia unleashed a 19:13 rally to enter the final period ahead by 15 points. They accounted for 22 points in the final stanza and left no chance for New Zealand to save the battle. Sean Mullan (-F-90) knocked down 15 points to lead Australia. Jeremy Hill produced 14 points, while Reece Maxwell had 11 points for the winners. Luke Aston replied with 14 points and 6 boards for New Zealand. Daniel Green and Duane Bailey (192-G/F-91) finished with 10 points each in defeat.
Australia: Sean Mullan 15, Jeremy Hill 14, Reece Maxwell 11
New Zealand: Luke Aston 14, Daniel Green 10, Duane Bailey 10
New Caledonia - Guam 80:68
New Caledonia were close to winning the opening game at the Oceania tournament but failed. They did not allow themselves the pleasure of wasting any more chances handling Guam in the second game of the tournament. New Caledonia improved at 1-1 record with the win, while Guam slipped at 1-2.
New Caledonia came up with a sizzling performance in the first half. They shot the ball well from all the distances and dominated the boards to complete the picture. New Caledonia fired 26 points to pile up a 13-point lead after ten minutes. The margin grew at 25-point mark at halftime. But Guam turned the tables in the third stanza. They tightened defense and forced their opponents to 13 turnovers. It helped Guam to won the period 26:11 and to revive the intrigue. New Caledonia seemed to get the message as they braced up and kept Guam at safe distance throughout the fourth quarter.
Raymond Weber (195-F-89) and Benoit Weber (195-F) notched 13 points apiece to lead New Caledonia. Laurent Berniere (-G) added 12 points for the winners. William Stinnett (186-G-86) responded with 20 points and 10 rebounds for Guam. Vince Estelle banked 13 points in defeat.
New Caledonia: Raymond Weber 13, Benoit Weber 13, Laurent Berniere 12
Guam: William Stinnett 20+10 boards, Vince Estelle 13
New Caledonia - New Zealand 61:52
New Caledonia posted the second straight win at the Oceania tournament beating New Zealand in Saipan today. It was quite a surprise as New Zealand and Australia were considered obvious favorites at the tourney. But New Caledonia proved their highest ambitions claiming a confident victory and improving at 2-1 record in the second spot in the ladder. New Zealand in the meantime slipped at 1-2 record in the third position.
The Emerging Tall Blacks enjoyed a slender 17:15 lead after ten minutes. But the Kiwis lost the rebound battle in the second frame allowing New Caledonia to surge in front 27:26 at halftime. Things got even worse for the Emerging Tall Blacks in the third frame. They committed 13 turnovers and watched New Caledonia taking a decisive lead. Raymond Weber helped New Caledonia to roll to a 13-point advantage with ten minute to go. New Zealand desperately tried to save the encounter but went 1/7 from beyond the arc to come up empty at the end.
Raymond Weber notched 13 points to lead the action. Benoit Weber delivered 11 points and 6 rebounds for New Caledonia. Rodrigue Tetainanuarii (203-F-82) delivered 9 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Daniel Green was the only player to score in double figures for New Zealand as he accounted for 10 points.
The teams will now have a day off before concluding the preliminary action on Thursday.
New Caledonia: Raymond Weber 13, Benoit Weber 11, Rodrigue Tetainanuarii 9+10 boards
New Zealand: Daniel Green 10, Luke Aston 8, Duane Bailey 8
Northern Mariana Islands - Australia 41:107
Australia coasted to the fourth straight win at the Oceania championship. They thumped Northern Mariana Islands today to book the top spot finish in the preliminary action. Six players scored in double digits for Australia in the win. Jeremy Hill notched 22 points to lead the charge. The hosts in the meantime slipped at 0-3 record at the bottom of the ladder.
Australia outmuscled their opponents on the boards 75:27 and eventually had an overwhelming advantage in every facet of the game. The Australian team marked their advantage early in the game as they edged the hosts 28:10 in the first frame. Having built a comfortable lead Aussies cruised later on. They stretched the buffer at 34 points at the interval. The tempo decreased in the third stanza but it did not prevent Australia from taking a 45-point lead into the final frame. They maintained the pressure till the final seconds and celebrated another victory in Saipan.
Jan Warbout nailed 16 points for the winners. Benjamin Purser tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the visitors. Jericho Cruz had 13 points for Northern Mariana Islands. Jomary Tumaquip delivered 7 points in defeat.
CNMI: Jericho Cruz 13, Jomary Tumaquip 7
Australia: Jeremy Hill 22, Jan Warbout 16, Benjamin Purser 13+10 boards
