Basketball: Even cramped travel helps mould team

Casey Frank. Photo / Getty Images

Basketballers spend a lot of time in the air - but it doesn't mean they enjoy flying. The Tall Blacks departed for China last Thursday and will criss-cross Europe as they build up for the three-match Olympic qualifying series against Australia in September.

It will mean hours in planes for the long-limbed athletes, all in cramped economy class.

"It's never the easiest travel situation," says forward Casey Frank. "Sometimes we get lucky and get [emergency] exit rows, sometimes we don't. It's not ideal but we don't have the biggest budget."

Every Super Rugby team travels business class, as do the All Blacks and Black Caps, but 2.03m Frank and his team-mates - including their only 7-footer, 2.16m Alex Pledger - don't have that luxury.

"In the past we have spent 40 hours in planes and airports, arrived and then played the next day," says Franks. "It's not ideal from a performance point of view but it does breed mental toughness and helps us become a band of brothers."

That fight and determination have been evident in recent years, where the Tall Blacks have punched above their weight. They made the second round at the 2010 world championships, after qualifying by beating the Boomers in an unforgettable three-match series.

The Tall Blacks have closed the transtasman gap, but their job will not be made any easier in September thanks to an administrative oversight by Basketball New Zealand. They failed to secure a suitable venue, partly due to the demands of the Rugby World Cup, so all three games will be played in Australia.

"We just have to take it as it comes," says Frank. "We are never the most physically talented or tallest or quickest out there, but we take such a hard-nosed approach and fight for everything. That is our greatest strength. Plus we run some very complex offence systems that are a lot more advanced than many other international teams."

In China they will compete for the Stankovic Cup, alongside Angola, Russia and the home side - minus the recently retired Yao Ming. The New Zealanders then fly to Italy for a training camp before heading east to Macedonia for a tournament with Montenegro, Macedonia and a still to be confirmed third opponent. The final phase will be at the Four Nations tournament against Ukraine, Montenegro and hosts Turkey.

Many critics questioned the selection of 30-year-old Frank for last year's world champs. But the power forward starred, matching up well against much bigger men and helping the Tall Blacks to some memorable victories, including a defeat of European heavyweights France.

If they qualify, the London Olympics will probably be his international swansong but Frank is already looking ahead. He's two-thirds of the way through an MBA and has a burgeoning career as a television basketball commentator. The naturalised American has lived in New Zealand for a decade and occupies the one spot allowed for foreign-born players under FIBA rules.

Despite a long international career and domestic success with the Auckland Stars, he is arguably not the most famous face in the Frank household. His partner is South African-born actress Mia Pistorius, the Moccona girl in the iconic series of advertisements.

Pistorius, who has appeared in Shortland Street, is also the face of Wellington tourism commercials and was recently named best actress at the 48-Hour Film Festival.

"People are always surprised who my girlfriend is - especially when they see this face," laughs Frank. "The response is generally, 'Your partner is who?' followed by a little gasp of surprise"