Basketball: Cameron to lead NZ at world titles

Tall Black Pero Cameron Photo / Brett Phibbs

Pero Cameron is off the inactive list at last.

The New Zealand basketball legend is gearing up for his third world championship campaign after convincing Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic of his fitness.

The 36-year-old, who debuted for his country in 1994, was today named captain among 12 players selected for the world championship starting in Turkey on August 28.

He has not played for six months due to a lingering foot injury, and attended a training camp in Auckland, which ended today, having to convince a sceptical Vucinic that he was ready to do his share for the New Zealand side in Turkey.

Vucinic admitted there was a stage he seriously doubted Cameron would make it.

"Over the weekend I thought it was going to be a real struggle for him. (But) he came right completely. I think he was surprised himself," Vucinic said when confirming his squad.

Cameron, who coached Wellington to the National Basketball League crown in his maiden season in a coaching role this year, shared his coach's doubts.

"The last two sessions were my best sessions. I kept on getting better, it was a bit of a mental thing - am I able to keep turning it up? But there was progression and the confidence came with it."

Nineteen players attended the training camp after Vucinic was shorn of two players when American import Rick Rickert was ruled out of contention after his bid to gain New Zealand citizenship in time failed and guard Corey Webster was banned for two months for cannabis use.

Cameron is one of three survivors from the 2002 world championship when New Zealand stunned the basketball world by finishing fourth.

Also still on the roster are shooting guards Kirk Penney and Phill Jones. These two and Cameron also featured at the 2006 world championship when the Tall Blacks finished 13th, their current world ranking.

Cameron likes what he has seen of the squad over the past three days.

"There's some good old heads in the team and plenty of experience. It's a good solid team," he said.

Vucinic hinted that he had not given up hope of enticing NBA player Sean Marks out of international retirement.

Marks, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, has not yet responded positively to approaches to reignite his career for the Tall Blacks, although Vucinic is loathe to concede defeat totally.

"Sean Marks is still a possibility. A small possibility. We'll just have to see if that happens," Vucinic said.

The squad leave tomorrow for Europe where they will sharpen their preparations for the championship by playing in tournaments in Turkey, Slovenia and Croatia.

Tall Blacks: Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato), Benny Anthony Jnr (North Harbour), Craig Bradshaw (unattached), Pero Cameron (captain, Wellington), Casey Frank (Wellington), Phill Jones (Nelson), Jeremy Kench (Christchurch), Mike Fitchett (Nelson), Kirk Penney (vice captain, NZ Breakers), Alex Pledger (Waikato), Lindsay Tait (Wellington), Mika Vukona (Nelson).

- NZPA