By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
New Zealand defeated Jordan in Round 2 of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and stayed alive in the race for the top two spots in Group C. The game went to overtime, but Yanni Wetzell and his teammates proved too strong for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jordan in the additional five minutes.
“A rollercoaster of emotions, especially down the stretch, that last play in the regular time, and not being able to help the team, being fouled out. Proud of the boys, the way they pushed through,” ALBA Berlin’s Wetzell said after the game.
The game against Greece in the last round is going to be crucial for advancing to the second phase.
“They’ve got great length, shooting, defensive tactics. It’s going to be great to go against them. An amazing platform for us to showcase how far basketball has come in New Zealand, being such a small country and underdog, always overperforming.”
While Wetzell was talking, the head coach of New Zealand, Pero Cameron, passed by and nudged him on his way. That turned the conversation to a New Zealand basketball legend.
“He’s big time in Eastern Europe—Serbia, Turkey, Greece—they love him. When we were in Turkey during the pre-World Cup campaign, everyone was asking for him.”
Cameron was the only non-NBA player to make the All-Tournament Team at the 2002 FIBA World Cup, where New Zealand achieved stunning success by making it to the semifinals.
“Just being around him, the way he goes about his things, you saw on film how much of a killer he was. But you’ll never hear it from him; he’s super humble. He never talks about it, just goes about his new role as a coach. Knowing what he has done, it’s special to be in the same locker room,” Wetzell concluded.
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