1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:16,067 Speaker 2: New Zealand have made history at the Feber Under seventeen 4 00:00:16,187 --> 00:00:18,427 Speaker 2: Basketball World Cup in Turkey. 5 00:00:18,467 --> 00:00:20,867 Speaker 1: Excellent work here from New Zealand. 6 00:00:21,147 --> 00:00:25,147 Speaker 2: Honday are coming through to the semifinals for the first 7 00:00:25,227 --> 00:00:28,947 Speaker 2: time in their history. Here bang on. They've reached the semifinals, 8 00:00:28,947 --> 00:00:32,787 Speaker 2: beating Lithuania seventy three sixty five in this morning's quarter final. 9 00:00:33,027 --> 00:00:35,307 Speaker 2: They become the first New Zealand team to make it 10 00:00:35,307 --> 00:00:38,547 Speaker 2: to the semifinals off a Feber age group World Cup. 11 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:41,147 Speaker 2: They will play the United States for a place in 12 00:00:41,187 --> 00:00:44,107 Speaker 2: the final. A true team effort. Oscar Goodman led the 13 00:00:44,107 --> 00:00:49,027 Speaker 2: way nineteen points and ten rebounds, Hayden Jones equally influential 14 00:00:49,107 --> 00:00:53,627 Speaker 2: thirteen points and twelve rebounds, Jackson Kiss seventeen points and 15 00:00:53,707 --> 00:00:57,427 Speaker 2: eight rebounds, Troy Plumtree twelve points, eight rebounds, and Hunter 16 00:00:57,627 --> 00:01:01,307 Speaker 2: Tatana chipping in with seven points, including a pair of 17 00:01:01,427 --> 00:01:04,707 Speaker 2: triples in the final quarter. The highest New Zealand has 18 00:01:04,747 --> 00:01:08,587 Speaker 2: achieved in its previous two Under seventeen World Cups fourteenth 19 00:01:08,667 --> 00:01:11,507 Speaker 2: and twelfth, and this is also the furthest any New 20 00:01:11,627 --> 00:01:14,947 Speaker 2: Zealand basketball team has gone since the Tour Blacks dream 21 00:01:14,987 --> 00:01:17,507 Speaker 2: run at the two thousand and two World Champs where 22 00:01:17,507 --> 00:01:21,787 Speaker 2: they finished fourth in Indianapolis, and that squad has ties 23 00:01:22,107 --> 00:01:24,147 Speaker 2: to this one. One of the leaders in two thousand 24 00:01:24,147 --> 00:01:27,827 Speaker 2: and two was Phil Jones. His son, Hayden Jones plays 25 00:01:27,867 --> 00:01:31,387 Speaker 2: a key role on this New Zealand under seventeen men's 26 00:01:31,547 --> 00:01:35,187 Speaker 2: national team. Phil Jones is with us. You must be 27 00:01:35,187 --> 00:01:37,507 Speaker 2: a proud dad first and foremost, are you Phil? 28 00:01:38,747 --> 00:01:42,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, biney, you're pretty proud proud parents. Myself and cat 29 00:01:43,107 --> 00:01:46,787 Speaker 3: boys are doing extremely well and Hayden obviously is playing 30 00:01:46,787 --> 00:01:47,507 Speaker 3: a big part of that. 31 00:01:48,507 --> 00:01:51,707 Speaker 2: How significant an achievement is this put it into context for. 32 00:01:51,747 --> 00:01:56,067 Speaker 3: Us, Well, I guess you know. Basketball is one of 33 00:01:56,107 --> 00:02:00,267 Speaker 3: the world sports and probably only second to football around 34 00:02:00,267 --> 00:02:04,947 Speaker 3: the world, and it's a pretty big achievement for a 35 00:02:05,027 --> 00:02:09,187 Speaker 3: younger group going to a World championship and doing what 36 00:02:09,227 --> 00:02:12,307 Speaker 3: they're doing right now. Obviously coming up okay, it's a 37 00:02:12,307 --> 00:02:14,947 Speaker 3: pretty tough team and their next opponent, but for what 38 00:02:14,947 --> 00:02:17,547 Speaker 3: they've done so far, it's very good. 39 00:02:18,227 --> 00:02:20,707 Speaker 2: What were your expectations when they headed off? 40 00:02:22,187 --> 00:02:25,307 Speaker 3: Well, I always thought that they could be pretty competitive. 41 00:02:26,347 --> 00:02:28,747 Speaker 3: I look at this age group and the guys that 42 00:02:28,787 --> 00:02:31,427 Speaker 3: are in the team and sort of watching them grow 43 00:02:31,507 --> 00:02:34,547 Speaker 3: up through the years, having coached a number of a 44 00:02:34,627 --> 00:02:37,067 Speaker 3: number of them or coached against them a number of 45 00:02:37,067 --> 00:02:42,267 Speaker 3: them throughout the last few years. Very talented, good size, 46 00:02:42,347 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 3: good athletes. They can all shoot, and they play super hard, 47 00:02:46,947 --> 00:02:51,387 Speaker 3: super competitors. So I think as far as maybe an 48 00:02:51,387 --> 00:02:55,027 Speaker 3: age group team that's been put together one of the 49 00:02:55,027 --> 00:02:56,787 Speaker 3: better ones that we've seen for a long time in 50 00:02:56,827 --> 00:03:00,027 Speaker 3: New Zealand and the Black Singler, is that. 51 00:02:59,987 --> 00:03:03,107 Speaker 2: Just by chance pill Or has the way that our 52 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:06,747 Speaker 2: young men and women are being coached now changed, What 53 00:03:06,827 --> 00:03:10,627 Speaker 2: has led to this particular group of players, you know, 54 00:03:11,107 --> 00:03:12,187 Speaker 2: turning out the way they have. 55 00:03:13,427 --> 00:03:17,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know, it's a good question, you know. 56 00:03:17,587 --> 00:03:20,427 Speaker 3: I know, for Hayden, for example, you know, he's been 57 00:03:20,467 --> 00:03:22,827 Speaker 3: around basketball since he was a little kid, and obviously 58 00:03:22,947 --> 00:03:26,107 Speaker 3: with myself and Cat and had the opportunity to have 59 00:03:26,107 --> 00:03:29,267 Speaker 3: a born and hand really really early on, as well 60 00:03:29,307 --> 00:03:31,787 Speaker 3: as the sisters, and you know, they all three of 61 00:03:31,787 --> 00:03:34,147 Speaker 3: them have turned out to be pretty good basketballers, and 62 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:36,987 Speaker 3: I think that's definitely helped him on his journey. But 63 00:03:37,027 --> 00:03:39,227 Speaker 3: there's still a few guys that are also quite new 64 00:03:39,227 --> 00:03:41,347 Speaker 3: to basketball that are in the team as well. And 65 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:44,507 Speaker 3: you know, I think it comes down to the influences 66 00:03:44,587 --> 00:03:47,427 Speaker 3: of the parents and the families and getting them into 67 00:03:47,427 --> 00:03:52,507 Speaker 3: sport and involved in basketball. But also I think Layton Haddleton, 68 00:03:52,827 --> 00:03:55,427 Speaker 3: the ended coach, the coach of the team. He alluded 69 00:03:55,427 --> 00:03:57,147 Speaker 3: to the fact that there's a number of good coaches 70 00:03:57,187 --> 00:03:59,747 Speaker 3: around New Zealand. I've had some involvement with these guys 71 00:03:59,787 --> 00:04:02,827 Speaker 3: for quite a long time, so you know, they've had 72 00:04:02,867 --> 00:04:07,507 Speaker 3: some good grounding. They love basketball, the competitors pretty good 73 00:04:07,587 --> 00:04:09,707 Speaker 3: mix for a pretty talented group. 74 00:04:10,147 --> 00:04:12,787 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it is have they had a lot of time 75 00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:15,667 Speaker 2: playing together, so you know they're all from different parts 76 00:04:15,667 --> 00:04:18,987 Speaker 2: of the country. Obviously different franchises, different secondary schools. Have 77 00:04:19,307 --> 00:04:22,587 Speaker 2: they had much time playing together this group. 78 00:04:23,787 --> 00:04:28,067 Speaker 3: Not really apart from the previous tournaments that they've been to, 79 00:04:29,387 --> 00:04:32,387 Speaker 3: because they have a three year cycle where it starts 80 00:04:32,387 --> 00:04:36,827 Speaker 3: at under fifteens. Now have Oceania Championship with it, which 81 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:38,707 Speaker 3: they go to, so they get together for that and 82 00:04:38,747 --> 00:04:41,827 Speaker 3: then the qualifiers from that then go to the Asian 83 00:04:41,947 --> 00:04:46,427 Speaker 3: champs the next year in the under sixteens and then 84 00:04:46,427 --> 00:04:48,347 Speaker 3: they get together for that. So that really, when you 85 00:04:48,387 --> 00:04:50,867 Speaker 3: think about it, they've only been together for these three 86 00:04:50,947 --> 00:04:55,027 Speaker 3: tournaments that they've had, They've been lucky enough to get 87 00:04:55,067 --> 00:04:57,947 Speaker 3: a reasonable build up into this tournament, having gone a 88 00:04:57,987 --> 00:05:00,467 Speaker 3: little bit earlier over into Turkey and playing in the 89 00:05:00,947 --> 00:05:06,067 Speaker 3: Stanbul Cup and winning that tournament. So, you know, I 90 00:05:06,067 --> 00:05:08,627 Speaker 3: guess from a preparation perspective, they don't have a lot 91 00:05:08,667 --> 00:05:11,667 Speaker 3: of time together, but they all know each other. They've 92 00:05:11,667 --> 00:05:14,027 Speaker 3: all played against each other for quite a long time now, 93 00:05:14,987 --> 00:05:17,587 Speaker 3: so that will help them when they get together. But 94 00:05:17,627 --> 00:05:19,867 Speaker 3: it would be it'll be awesome if we could get 95 00:05:19,867 --> 00:05:22,507 Speaker 3: them together for a month before they go and see 96 00:05:22,547 --> 00:05:23,147 Speaker 3: what they could do. 97 00:05:23,907 --> 00:05:26,667 Speaker 2: How tough will the United States be in the semi final? 98 00:05:26,667 --> 00:05:29,667 Speaker 2: What a stupid question. But how big, how big a 99 00:05:29,787 --> 00:05:31,387 Speaker 2: jump up is this going to be for them? 100 00:05:32,147 --> 00:05:35,387 Speaker 3: Well, you've heard of David and Goliath, right, Well, yeah, 101 00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:39,107 Speaker 3: this is a this is a exactly that I think. 102 00:05:39,187 --> 00:05:42,107 Speaker 3: You know, the US team has been super dominant throughout 103 00:05:42,147 --> 00:05:44,387 Speaker 3: the whole tournament. All of the games that have been 104 00:05:44,427 --> 00:05:48,027 Speaker 3: winning comfortably by a margin of somewhere between forty and 105 00:05:48,067 --> 00:05:52,907 Speaker 3: fifty points. You know, the Canadian game, the quarter final 106 00:05:52,947 --> 00:05:55,227 Speaker 3: they played last night, they won that I think it 107 00:05:55,267 --> 00:05:58,547 Speaker 3: was one hundred and eleven to sixty odds so, you know, 108 00:05:58,827 --> 00:06:01,827 Speaker 3: and Canada would be pretty tough. I would say, so 109 00:06:03,067 --> 00:06:06,627 Speaker 3: big for the NZ team, but I would say late 110 00:06:06,627 --> 00:06:09,107 Speaker 3: and we'll have them firing. They'll go out and be prepared, 111 00:06:09,227 --> 00:06:12,787 Speaker 3: and yeah, they've got nothing to lose. Just get out there, 112 00:06:13,187 --> 00:06:15,627 Speaker 3: play the game. The hoop's still the same height, and 113 00:06:15,747 --> 00:06:18,107 Speaker 3: the room's still the same with the basketball courts are 114 00:06:18,107 --> 00:06:19,827 Speaker 3: still the same size. You just got to get after 115 00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:21,147 Speaker 3: it aslutely. 116 00:06:21,267 --> 00:06:22,987 Speaker 2: And I would imagine, I don't know this to be true, 117 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:26,387 Speaker 2: but I would imagine that this group of David's would 118 00:06:26,387 --> 00:06:29,507 Speaker 2: be absolutely fizzing to take on Goliath, wouldn't they. 119 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:32,587 Speaker 3: Oh yeah. We'd talked to Hayden after the game, and 120 00:06:33,067 --> 00:06:34,827 Speaker 3: you know, they were super pumped to be in the Semis, 121 00:06:34,867 --> 00:06:37,227 Speaker 3: but I think he was probably more excited about actually 122 00:06:37,267 --> 00:06:40,507 Speaker 3: playing the US, because you know, all of these guys 123 00:06:40,547 --> 00:06:43,627 Speaker 3: look up to those guys and sort of idolize them 124 00:06:43,707 --> 00:06:47,307 Speaker 3: and what they do in their colleges and high schools 125 00:06:47,347 --> 00:06:50,587 Speaker 3: and the athletes that they are, and they see them 126 00:06:50,707 --> 00:06:54,107 Speaker 3: on social media all the time, so I think they 127 00:06:54,147 --> 00:06:57,347 Speaker 3: are all of them are super pumped about playing USA. 128 00:06:57,787 --> 00:06:59,427 Speaker 2: Are we looking at a group of players here who 129 00:06:59,507 --> 00:07:01,867 Speaker 2: could emulate what you did in two thousand and two. 130 00:07:03,907 --> 00:07:08,987 Speaker 3: Well they already have, right, but there the top four, 131 00:07:09,187 --> 00:07:12,507 Speaker 3: So now it's down to them to see whether they 132 00:07:12,547 --> 00:07:15,547 Speaker 3: could go one step further. It'll be awesome if they could, 133 00:07:16,347 --> 00:07:19,987 Speaker 3: you know, somehow get a win against USA and then 134 00:07:20,067 --> 00:07:24,507 Speaker 3: get themselves into a gold medal silver medal match. But 135 00:07:24,547 --> 00:07:26,467 Speaker 3: if it doesn't go that way, then they've still got 136 00:07:26,467 --> 00:07:28,467 Speaker 3: an opportunity to go one further than the two thousand 137 00:07:28,507 --> 00:07:30,987 Speaker 3: and two team did, and you know, I would love 138 00:07:31,027 --> 00:07:31,787 Speaker 3: to see that happen. 139 00:07:32,107 --> 00:07:34,227 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess what I was asking was as Toll 140 00:07:34,227 --> 00:07:36,987 Speaker 2: Blacks in the years ahead, could this group of under 141 00:07:37,027 --> 00:07:41,107 Speaker 2: seventeen players do what you guys did in a tall 142 00:07:41,147 --> 00:07:41,867 Speaker 2: black singlet? 143 00:07:43,067 --> 00:07:46,067 Speaker 3: Well, I don't see why not. You know, we've got 144 00:07:46,707 --> 00:07:48,987 Speaker 3: we've got a very good TOOLBAX team now, and we 145 00:07:49,067 --> 00:07:52,107 Speaker 3: get all of our players together. It's probably the key 146 00:07:52,387 --> 00:07:55,547 Speaker 3: I think moving forward is how we try and keep 147 00:07:55,587 --> 00:07:59,547 Speaker 3: this group together or add pieces to it to make 148 00:07:59,587 --> 00:08:02,227 Speaker 3: sure that we're competing at the highest level in the 149 00:08:02,227 --> 00:08:05,747 Speaker 3: black singlet. You know, sometimes it's very hard because these 150 00:08:05,747 --> 00:08:10,347 Speaker 3: players are for different leagues and competitions and it's tough 151 00:08:10,347 --> 00:08:11,987 Speaker 3: to get them out of those leagues to get them 152 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:15,667 Speaker 3: back and wearing the black single, And you know that's 153 00:08:15,707 --> 00:08:18,867 Speaker 3: going to be a struggle for basketball New Zealand moving forward. 154 00:08:19,107 --> 00:08:21,107 Speaker 3: How do they keep this group together so that we 155 00:08:21,187 --> 00:08:23,307 Speaker 3: can be competitive at a wheal stage. 156 00:08:23,867 --> 00:08:26,747 Speaker 2: That two thousand and two team, had you played much 157 00:08:27,027 --> 00:08:30,307 Speaker 2: with them at under seventeen level for example, Philer, you know, 158 00:08:30,347 --> 00:08:32,147 Speaker 2: I think of the players in that two thousand and 159 00:08:32,187 --> 00:08:35,107 Speaker 2: two team, had you played much with them previously? 160 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:40,467 Speaker 3: Personally? No, yeah, but I didn't play any New Zealand 161 00:08:40,467 --> 00:08:44,027 Speaker 3: representative basketball until I moved from the coast to Nelson 162 00:08:44,107 --> 00:08:48,147 Speaker 3: and made the other twenties. So the Jay Junior Tall Blacks, 163 00:08:48,507 --> 00:08:50,147 Speaker 3: that was the first time that I'd played worth the 164 00:08:50,227 --> 00:08:54,907 Speaker 3: lights of Pera Cameron and Mark Pickle and Sean Marks, 165 00:08:54,947 --> 00:09:00,667 Speaker 3: those guys. But we were a group that sort of 166 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:05,427 Speaker 3: came through the New Zealand NBL together played in the 167 00:09:05,587 --> 00:09:09,307 Speaker 3: national team a decent period of time. Once we sort 168 00:09:09,307 --> 00:09:13,347 Speaker 3: of got together, probably around that late nineties early two 169 00:09:13,387 --> 00:09:19,947 Speaker 3: thousands where Table came along with Dennibushnich and kind of 170 00:09:20,027 --> 00:09:22,427 Speaker 3: changed things for us a bit. But we knew each 171 00:09:22,427 --> 00:09:24,707 Speaker 3: other very well, not too dissimilar to what this group 172 00:09:24,947 --> 00:09:27,987 Speaker 3: is like at the moment. So I think there's you know, 173 00:09:28,067 --> 00:09:32,147 Speaker 3: there's a really good opportunity for these guys to do well, 174 00:09:32,187 --> 00:09:34,307 Speaker 3: and they've done well so far in this tournament, but 175 00:09:34,387 --> 00:09:36,627 Speaker 3: in the future they could really take the tour base 176 00:09:36,667 --> 00:09:37,347 Speaker 3: to the next level. 177 00:09:38,067 --> 00:09:39,027 Speaker 2: Have you had any sleep? 178 00:09:41,107 --> 00:09:43,467 Speaker 3: Very patchy sleep. It was nice to have a nine 179 00:09:43,467 --> 00:09:46,587 Speaker 3: to thirty game last night versus a two am and 180 00:09:46,627 --> 00:09:49,867 Speaker 3: a five am and a four to thirty am. You know, 181 00:09:49,947 --> 00:09:52,307 Speaker 3: but back to the grind on Sunday morning where the 182 00:09:52,427 --> 00:09:56,467 Speaker 3: boys played two am against USA. So yeah, but it's 183 00:09:56,467 --> 00:09:57,907 Speaker 3: all worth it, one hundred percent. 184 00:09:57,907 --> 00:10:00,267 Speaker 2: It's worth it, Yeah, worth getting up for. Great to 185 00:10:00,347 --> 00:10:03,747 Speaker 2: chat Phil, Look, I know everyone around New Zealand has 186 00:10:03,787 --> 00:10:06,907 Speaker 2: just delighted that this latest group of young athletes are 187 00:10:06,947 --> 00:10:08,707 Speaker 2: doing so well. Really good to chat mate. Thanks and 188 00:10:08,747 --> 00:10:12,627 Speaker 2: the expo all the best mate, Cheers Phil Jones, dad 189 00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:15,107 Speaker 2: of Hayden, who plays a massive part in this New 190 00:10:15,187 --> 00:10:18,547 Speaker 2: Zealand under seventeen men's team, himself obviously an icon of 191 00:10:18,587 --> 00:10:22,147 Speaker 2: our game. But yeah, watching these young boys, I've seen 192 00:10:22,187 --> 00:10:24,587 Speaker 2: a lot of clips this morning on social media and 193 00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:28,067 Speaker 2: you know, just the way they play and the way 194 00:10:28,107 --> 00:10:32,267 Speaker 2: they carry themselves. And as Phil said, it's going to 195 00:10:32,307 --> 00:10:35,467 Speaker 2: be David against Goliath. When New Zealand played the United 196 00:10:35,467 --> 00:10:38,707 Speaker 2: States and basketball. It doesn't matter what level, but these 197 00:10:39,507 --> 00:10:42,667 Speaker 2: players will fist for it. What an opportunity for them. 198 00:10:42,987 --> 00:10:45,707 Speaker 2: And imagine the eyes that will be on the US 199 00:10:45,987 --> 00:10:49,867 Speaker 2: under seventeen basketball team, who by default will get the 200 00:10:49,907 --> 00:10:52,707 Speaker 2: opportunity to watch the New Zealand team in action. Huge 201 00:10:52,707 --> 00:10:55,427 Speaker 2: opportunity for these boys. Great stuff. 202 00:10:56,347 --> 00:10:59,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 203 00:10:59,627 --> 00:11:02,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 204 00:11:02,987 --> 00:11:04,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.