Former Dunedin basketballer Sam Timmins joined his New Zealand team-mates in claiming the under-18 world 3x3 championships in Hungary yesterday morning.
New Zealand's 20-18 win over Argentina followed up from a 21-13 win over Russia in the quarterfinals and a 21-8 pummelling of Spain in the semifinals.
Timmins, a centre now playing in Canterbury, teamed up with power forward Tai Wynyard - named tournament MVP - along with guards Nikau McCullough and Matthew Freeman in the squad, to give New Zealand its second win in the tournament after winning in 2011.
Head coach Anthony Corban said the wins in the sudden-death matches were looking likely after a great workout on the morning of the matches.
''We are a big team and today they turned on the style,'' he said.
''It looked like it was coming after a great shooting session to get ready this morning and the boys just took it into the games today.
Coaches are not allowed to coach in 3x3 once a game starts, but Corban said strong leadership from captain McCullough was a calming factor.
''The boys have just been superb and Nikau's captaincy brilliant . He has taken to the task superbly and contributed in a big way to this success.''
Corban described Wynyard as ''perhaps the most relaxed young man'' he had worked with, and praised the intelligence of Timmins.
''He has a high basketball IQ and has come out of a really good programme with Mark Dickel. He is one of a special group of players emerging out of our country.''
The under-18 girls team finished in the round of 16.
