Tall Blacks Finish Fourth at Asia Cup After Slow Start

The Tall Blacks of New Zealand concluded their campaign at the **FIBA Asia Cup** in Saudi Arabia, finishing fourth after a **79-73** defeat to Iran in the bronze medal playoff. This result marks another solid performance for New Zealand, who previously secured a fourth-place finish in **2017** and claimed bronze in **2022**.

New Zealand started the match sluggishly, trailing **47-33** at halftime. Despite some efforts to close the gap in the second half, Iran maintained a significant lead, demonstrating effective shooting throughout the game. Flynn Cameron led the scoring for New Zealand with **18 points**, while Mojave King contributed **13 points**, being the only other player to reach double figures.

Reflecting on the match, New Zealand coach **Judd Flavell** acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings in the first half. “They shot the ball very well, and I think we were late in our defensive schemes and not quite as committed as we needed to be,” Flavell stated. He added that the second half showcased a much-improved effort, crediting the team’s resilience in making the contest closer.

Forward **Tohi Smith-Milner**, who has now reached the Asia Cup semi-finals three times without advancing to the final, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. “We did show a lot of grit in the second half, especially for such a young team. I’m still so proud of this group. I have mixed emotions right now… just a little bit disappointed,” said Smith-Milner.

In the final match of the tournament, Australia claimed the championship, narrowly defeating China **90-89**. This victory allowed Australia to retain their title, adding to their impressive record in the region.

The Tall Blacks have shown considerable promise in only their third appearance at the Asia Cup, achieving a third consecutive top-four finish. Their ongoing development bodes well for future competitions as they continue to build on their experiences in international basketball.