Tall Blacks heading to Asia Cup quarters

The Tall Blacks thumped Chinese Taipei 118-78 to finish top of group D at the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

It secures an automatic place in the quarterfinals and a four-day break to recharge.

Flynn Cameron powered the Tall Blacks with 28 points — a record for a New Zealander at the Asia Cup — as well as nine rebounds and eight assists.

Mojave King continued his solid form with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Taylor Britt added 14 points.

It was just 19-18 at the end of the first quarter but the Tall Blacks clicked into gear and led 49-35 at halftime and 84-59 at the three-quarter mark.

The Tall Blacks shot 54.7% from the field (41/75) and 44.1% from deep (15/34), and destroyed Chinese Taipei on the glass, claiming a 61-22 rebound advantage.

They claimed a staggering 19 offensive rebounds, five to King alone.

The Hinton brothers, Robert and Adam, led Chinese Taipei with a combined 40 points and six triples.

— The New Zealand Breakers have completed their roster by signing 2.08m American forward Rob Baker as the team’s final import player.

Baker has played professionally in the Slovak Basketball League, Japan’s B League, and the NBA G League.

He most recently played for German EuroLeague Club ALBA Berlin, and made the Indiana Pacers roster for the 2025 NBA Summer League, where he scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Breakers president Dillon Boucher said Baker, who went to Harvard University, was a versatile forward who would bring a strong presence to the team.

"His experience and talent will be a huge asset to our squad," Boucher said.

"His recent performances have shown he is a dynamic player, and we believe he will be an excellent fit for our team culture."

Baker joins fellow imports Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Izaiah Brockington.

He will join the team after competing for the United States in the Fiba AmeriCup in Nicaragua later this month.

— Allied Media/RNZ