Basketball: Tall Blacks line up busy programme

Tom Abercrombie. Photo / File

The New Zealand men's side will play 16 games in preparation for the Basketball World Cup, including internationals against South Korea in Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland in July.

The New Zealand men's side will play 16 games in preparation for the Basketball World Cup, including internationals against South Korea in Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland in July.

The Tall Blacks will meet South Korea three times in five days and then play a return series in South Korea a week later. They will also play a four-team series in China, a four-nation series in Lithuania then a two-game series against Serbia.

New Zealand have been drawn to play the Dominican Republic, Finland, Turkey, Ukraine and US at the World Cup in Spain, which starts on August 30.

Basketball New Zealand boss Iain Potter said they were undecided about whether they will play against South Korea at the North Shore Events Centre or Vector Arena but admitted filling Vector might be too ambitious.

He also said the South Island missed out on games because venues were unavailable on the dates required.

``Next year there'll be opportunities because we'll be playing Korea regularly,'' Potter said. ``We've had really healthy and useful conversations with the Philippines and Japan as well about future tours, so were confident we'll have something every year.''

The Tall Ferns will also have a busy programme with a series in South Korea in August before a four nations tournament in China.

The Tall Blacks will meet South Korea three times in five days and then play a return series in South Korea a week later. They will also play a four-team series in China, a four-nation series in Lithuania then a two-game series against Serbia.

New Zealand have been drawn to play the Dominican Republic, Finland, Turkey, Ukraine and US at the World Cup in Spain, which starts on August 30.

Basketball New Zealand boss Iain Potter said they were undecided about whether they will play against South Korea at the North Shore Events Centre or Vector Arena but admitted filling Vector might be too ambitious.

He also said the South Island missed out on games because venues were unavailable on the dates required.

``Next year there'll be opportunities because we'll be playing Korea regularly,'' Potter said. ``We've had really healthy and useful conversations with the Philippines and Japan as well about future tours, so were confident we'll have something every year.''

The Tall Ferns will also have a busy programme with a series in South Korea in August before a four nations tournament in China.