吃瓜51爆料网APP (BBNZ) is pleased to announce its New Zealand U23 3×3 Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 national teams for the upcoming FIBA U23 3脳3 World Cup 2024; held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 11-15 September.听
The NZ U23 3脳3 Women鈥檚 squad includes Kate Herman, Anika Hyland, Arielle Mackey-Williams and Dominique Stephens and will be led by Kat Jones. In addition, Maddy Timms and Maia Taingahue have been named as non-travelling Reserves.听
The NZ U23 3脳3 Men鈥檚 squad features Josh Book, Zach McKenzie, Campbell Scott and Aidan Tonge, and will be helmed by 3脳3 Tall Blacks head coach Piet van Hasselt. In addition, Daniel Dobson and Zach Hannen has been named as non-travelling Reserves.听
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Athletes return from U23 3×3 Nations League听
Both New Zealand squads are mostly unchanged from the 3×3 U23 national teams that won in dominating fashion at the FIBA U23 3×3 Nations League in July, which earned the Kiwis two tickets to the U23 3×3 World Cup.听
That New Zealand U23 3×3 women鈥檚 team went undefeated (18-0) over six days at the FIBA U23 3×3 Nations League tournament, averaging 20.5 points per game while holding opponents to just 8 points per game. Meanwhile the NZ U23 3脳3 Men鈥檚 team went 17-1 in their campaign, averaging 20.7 points per game while holding opponents to 12 per game.听
The women鈥檚 team sees leading scorer Maia Jones ruled out due to injury, with Mackey-Williams 鈥� who last year represented New Zealand with the 3×3 Tall Ferns in the FIBA 3×3 Women鈥檚 Series 鈥� coming in as her replacement. Both Timms and Dobson have been moved to a non-travelling reserve role, due to the tournament squad limit of four players.听
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FIBA U23 3×3 World Cup new territory for New Zealand听
In the fifth edition of the FIBA U23 3脳3 World Cup, New Zealand will be among 40 teams – 20 men鈥檚 and 20 women鈥檚 squads – competing at this tournament. New Zealand has only competed once before at this level, with its Men鈥檚 team finishing eleventh out of 20 teams in the 2019 edition; the NZ Women鈥檚 team will compete here for the first time.听
The NZ U23 3脳3 Men鈥檚 squad have been placed into Pool C alongside Germany, Italy, Argentina and Israel, while the NZ U23 3脳3 Women鈥檚 squad will compete in Pool B alongside Japan, Spain, Italy and the United States.听If both teams can finish in the top two of their pool, they will move onto the Quarter-final round – in cross-pool play 鈥� from 15 September.听
3脳3 programmes manager Nikolay Mikhalchuk, says that the FIBA U23 3脳3 World Cup is arguably the world鈥檚 pinnacle age group 3×3 tournament.听
“The FIBA U23 3×3 World Cup presents a unique opportunity for our 3×3 programme to test itself against the global leaders in the 3×3 game – this challenge will be crucial in helping us map out our strategy for the LA 2028 Olympics campaign,鈥� says Mikhalchuk.
鈥淚’m excited for our players and coaches who have earned the chance to represent New Zealand at such a high level 3×3 event; their hard work and dedication have been instrumental in developing our newly designed 3×3 style of play, which has already proven successful at the Nations League in Malaysia. U23 age-group in 3×3 gives as a unique chance to test our young talents and roadmap our Olympics strategy.”
All games can be watched live at . Find out more at 听
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New Zealand U23 3×3 National Team 鈥� Women鈥檚 Squad
Kate Herman听
Dominique Stephens听
Anika Hyland
Arielle Mackey-Williams听
Head Coach – Kat Jones听
New Zealand U23 3×3 National Team –听Women鈥檚 Schedule听
12 September, 8.05pm NZT 鈥� Japan vs New Zealand听
12 September, 10.20pm NZT 鈥� New Zealand vs Spain听
14 September, 8.30pm NZT 鈥� Italy vs New Zealand听
14 September, 11.35pm NZT 鈥� New Zealand vs United States听
New Zealand U23 3×3 National Team 鈥� Men鈥檚 Squad
Josh Book听
Zach McKenzie听
Campbell Scott听
Aidan Tonge听
Head Coach – Piet Van Hasselt听
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New Zealand U23 3×3 National Team – Men鈥檚 Schedule听
11 September, 5.55pm NZT 鈥� Germany vs New Zealand听
11 September, 9.20pm NZT 鈥� Italy vs New Zealand听
13 September, 9.20pm NZT 鈥� New Zealand vs Argentina听
13 September, 11.10pm NZT 鈥� New Zealand vs Israel听
