17 Aug 2017

Tall Blacks size up Lebanon in Asia Cup

12:55 pm on 17 August 2017

New Zealand basketball team captain Reuben Te Rangi says the Tall Blacks are rested and ready for their Asia Cup quarter-final match against Jordan in Lebanon.

Tall Blacks Derone Raukawa

Tall Blacks Derone Raukawa Photo: FIBA

Both teams enter the quarter-final after winning two of their three group games.

The New Zealanders need to push their way through to the semis to improve their current world ranking of 20 and to boost their chances of making the next World Championships.

Te Rangi says the young team is aware of the importance of this game.

"We're in a quarter final and it's probably the biggest game of international basketball that I've played in so I'm excited to go into battle with the boys again."

Jordan are ranked 8 places lower than New Zealand.

The game begins at 9pm.