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15 - 18
August 2015
Mika Vukona (NZL)
30/07/2015
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Battling Tall Blacks fall at the buzzer

SLAVONSKI BROD (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - If there is such a thing as a good defeat, the New Zealand Tall Blacks had one on Wednesday night in their friendly against Croatia in Slavonski Brod.

In a battle of sides that exited last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup after narrow setbacks in the Round of 16, the Croatians won at the buzzer, 70-68, when Rok Stipcevic drilled a three-ball.

The basket made the point guard Croatia's leading scorer on the night with 14 points and denied the New Zealanders a victory that would have raised plenty of eyebrows in Europe and back home.

There was nevertheless much to like for New Zealand coach Paul Henare, who is preparing the Tall Blacks for their FIBA Oceania Championship showdown with Australia (15 August in Melbourne and 18 August in Wellington).

"We went out there to get this win tonight, that was our priority, we spoke about it, we wanted it, we put it all on the line," Henare said.

"But the long game is Australia and the Oceania Series and a place at the Olympic Games..."

Corey Webster showed the same form that made him New Zealand's biggest weapon on offense at the World Cup, pouring in a game-high 19 points.

The shooting guard's confidence has been soaring since his displays in Bilbao and Barcelona last year.

This team is deep and will rely on everyone stepping up at crucial times to get the job done, we saw that tonight. - Henare

Mika Vukona, one of the grittiest of performers in international basketball, had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Kiwis.

A rebound and put-back by the power forward his team on top 68-67 with 10 seconds remaining but Stipcevic saved the day for the Croatians.

"I am proud of those players right now," Henare said.

"We are disappointed at the loss, we should all be disappointed at the loss but we will take plenty from this performance as well.

"This is a tough place to play, we knew that, we wanted that, and Croatia gave us all we expected.

"They are big, strong and a real presence, this was the perfect work out for us at this stage of our preparation for the Australians."

The contest was physical, with Thomas Abercrombie needing three stitches to close a chin wound before returning to action.

New Zealand next face Slovenia in Zrece on Thursday.

Both Croatia and Slovenia are preparing to take part in EuroBasket 2015.

The winner of the FIBA Oceania Championship will clinch a spot at the 2016 Rio Games, while the loser will book a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

FIBA