‘Wild card’ entry for basketball?

Press, 1 June 1984, Page 30

‘Wild card’ entry for basketball?

By

FRANK DUGGAN

If confidence amounts to anything then New Zealand has already been accepted for the 1986 world men's basketball championships in Spain. A meeting of the world controlling body, F.1.8.A., in Munich next week, will decide if New Zealand is to be one of three countries allowed a “wild card” entry for the championships. However, the secretary-general of the Oceania Basketball Confederation, Al Ramsay, of Sydney, who will represent New Zealand at the meeting, is so confident that he is not including New Zealand in the Oceania qualifying competitions in the next two years. Several months ago F.1.8.A. said that one of the three non-qualifying spots would be given to an Oceania nation and New Zealand has been pushing its case ever since. “On what Mr Ramsay told me this week he is confident New Zealand will get an invitation,” said the executive director of the New Zealand Basketball Federation, Joe McLeod, yesterday. If this is the case, New Zealand basketball has a lot to do in preparation for Spain. The New Zealand team of 12 will be announced by the chief coach, Peter Schmidt of Auckland, early this month for an

Asian tour and then there will be a tour of the west coast of the United States in November. Next season’s international programme is uncertain. Speaking from Auckland last evening, Mr Schmidt said that the team for tournaments in Asia in August and September would not necessarily be the same team picked for the United States. “Basically the Asian team will include young players who will be taken for experience and to see if their potential measures up to international standard,” he said. “If they fail then they will be replaced.” Mr Schmidt said that the team picked for Asia would certainly miss former key players in John Van Uden, Paul Ogilvy and Stan Hall. “But the Asian tour will not be as tough as the United States,” he said. Asked if Hill would be considered for selection to tour the United States (he was dramatically dropped from the final national training camp at Easter when he could not reach agreement with the selectors over availability for training and other matters), Mr Schmidt replied: “Of course.” However, he stipulated that Hill would have to conform to the coaches’ policy otherwise he would not be selected.