Vodanovich called up to replace injured Delany

Finn Delany is a late withdrawal from the Tall Blacks’ Fiba World Cup qualifiers as the Breakers forward seeks further attention on a knee injury.

While clearly disappointed at the news, Tall Blacks head coach Paul Henare accepts injuries will play a part in the Fiba windows, and has complete faith in the 12 that will  suit up against Jordan in Christchurch next Thursday and against Syria in Wellington on December 2.

"This is a blow for us and for Finn, but right now the priority has to be for him to seek further treatment and get healthy. He is a player that brings a great deal of experience to our group despite being young in years, and I know he is always keen to pull on that black singlet."

Henare said the nature of international scheduling under the new format in Asia meant he had little time to dwell on players that were not there, but instead poured his energy into the 14 that would  assemble in Christchurch on Monday.

"Someone’s bad news however inevitably leads to good news for another player and in this case I am delighted to call up Tom Vodanovich to the Tall Blacks for the first time. Tom is a player that has progressed through the Sals NBL and into the New Zealand Select team, where he was a standout performer on our tour of China earlier this year," says Coach Henare.

Vodanovich returned home to Wellington in July 2017 following four years playing vivision 1 college basketball in the United States for James Madison University in Virginia. He was immediately signed to the Southland Sharks for 2018 and helped the team win the 2018 NBL title. He was also part of the four-man New Zealand squad that won silver at the Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup in Mongolia in October last year. This year Vodanovich became part of the Breakers Development squad. Henare said the addition of the 201cm 24-year-old Vodanovich was a result of building depth in the Tall Blacks squad through the NZ Select team and a standout NBL season.

"Tom is not dissimilar to Finn in what he brings, a physical presence, an energy to rebound, make the hustle plays and he offers a genuine scoring threat."

If the Tall Blacks win the next two games, they will qualify for the 2019 Fiba World Cup in China. 

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