The New Zealand womens basketball team has missed out on a spot at next year's World Championships after losing to South Korea of the Asia Cup in Bangalore.
TALL FERN Jillian Harmon at the FIBA Asia Women’s World Cup in Bangalore on Thursday 27 July. Photo: FIBA
The Tall Ferns were beaten 64-49 in the quarter-finals.
Only the four semi-finalist from the Asia Cup qualify for the World Championships to be held in Spain.
It had looked promising for the Tall Ferns early on as they led14-8 at quarter time with five different players getting on the scoreboard.
But a disastrous second quarter left the Tall Ferns outscored 26-6 to trail Korea 34-20 at half-time.
"We had plenty of looks but some days they get it done and others they don't, you have days like that," said Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama.
"We never lie down and die, I'm very proud of the team. Playing in Asia will make us a lot better but it may take us a couple of cycles, four to eight years, to gain the full benefit," he said.
Kereama was pleased with the comeback staged by his team in the second half.
They had cut the lead to 49-45 with 6 minutes to play but they went scoreless in the next three minutes to trail 54-45 with just three minutes left.
South Korea then increased in the dying minutes of the game to secure their semi-final place and a spot at the 2018 World Cup.
The Tall Ferns will now play for places 5-8 at the Asia Cup beginning with a match against North Korea today.
In the semi-finals South Korea play Australia and China play Japan.
