Sam Mennenga to debut for Tall Blacks

With numerous New Zealand teams at international tournaments at present we take a look at how current and former Harbour players are getting on in the black singlet.

With a number of regulars stepping aside the Tall Blacks have named a young inexperienced team for the Asia Cup in Indonesia beginning on Tuesday. 

Uncapped Sam Mennenga along with Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Taine Murray are in the twelve man team that open their campaign on Wednesday against India. That game will tip-off at 4.00pm (NZT) and be broadcast on Maori TV.

The Tall Ferns other opponents in Group D are Lebanon and the Philippines.

The Men’s FIBA Under 17 Basketball World Cup in Spain concluded overnight with New Zealand finishing 11th in the 16-team tournament. In the final game, an 80-70 loss to Argentina Julius Halaifonua produced a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Julius had an outstanding tournament finishing 19th on the scoring list averaging 12 points per game and an even more impressive 11th highest rebounder with 7.1 rebounds per game. 

Meanwhile the U17 Women’s National Team have begun their World Cup campaign in Hungary.

Guard Amy Pateman top scored for New Zealand with 9 points – her 3 from 5 shooting number standing out like a beacon in the Kiwis 68-35 to Germany in the opening game.

During last week five Harbour players were named to the U18 National teams.

Harbour U19 reps Charlie Dalton, Tom Beattie and Taukoto Wynyard have been selected for the Men’s team contesting the Asia Cup in Iran in late August.

The Women’s U18’s will be playing their Asia Cup tournament in India in early September. Florence Dallow and Mackenzie Chatfield have been selected in that team with Izzy Pugh named a reserve. 

Florence has recently departed New Zealand for her freshman year at Saint Mary’s College, California where she will be playing alongside Tayla Dalton.

Tayla was with the Tall Ferns 3X3 team at the Asia Cup in Singapore at the weekend.  After progressing through the qualifying rounds New Zealand found themselves in the Pool of Death with Australia and China. The Kiwis lost both games against the two teams that would go on to contest the Grand Final. 




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