10/06/2026
Four Harbour alumni named in the latest Tall Blacks squad.
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Four Harbour Basketball alumni have been named in an experienced Tall Blacks team for the games against the Philippines and Guam next month.
Tall Blacks Head Coach Judd Flavell has selected his squad for window three of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, with Taine Murray, Sam Mennenga and Sam Waardenburg and Tai Webster included.
Tai will be playing in his first Tall Blacks game since the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China where he averaged 13.4 points and 4.8 assists per game.
“This will be the first time suiting up for Tai in a few years now, so it’s great to welcome him back into the mix. The way that he’s been playing, firstly getting his body healthy which has been the first priority for him, but we’re excited to have him back in camp,” said Flavell.
Also joining the squad, will be his newly signed Melbourne United teammate, Sam Waardenburg. The centre signing with the six-time NBL championships in free agency, after spending his first four years in the league in Far North Queensland with the Cairns Taipans.
The impressive young centre has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years, but has remained impressive in his limited games for the Taipans averaging 15.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest in the eight games he played in the 2025-26 NBL season.
“Sam is someone who has been available in the past, and again just unfortunate circumstances with injuries and what happens in the game of basketball.”
“But this guy has been keen and wants to be a part of the Tall Blacks, and now we get to have him back in.”
July 3rd’s Spark Arena re-match with the Philippines is the perfect match-up for 2026’s Tall Blacks home opener, with the squad playing against Guam at Eventfinda Stadium on July 6, in what will be the last time to see the Tall Blacks live in 2026.
Tickets are on sale for both games in this window, and will be live on ESPN and available on the Disney+ platform.
TALL BLACKS SQUAD FOR FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS:
Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams (48 games)
Carlin Davison, BNZ Breakers & Wellington Saints (18 games)
Shea Ili, Melbourne United (73 games)
Mojave King, Mykonos (13 games)
Sam Mennenga, BNZ Breakers (10 games)
Taine Murray, Brisbane Bullets & Tauranga Whai (25 games)
Jordan Ngatai, Tauranga Whai (95 games)
Tohi Smith-Milner, Brisbane Bullets & Nelson Giants (81 games)
Reuben Te Rangi, BNZ Breakers & Tauranga Whai (76 games)
Sam Timmins, Southland Sharks (29 games)
Sam Waardenburg, Melbourne United (4 games)
Tai Webster, Manawatū Jets (54 games)
3x3 Tall Blacks:
Christian Martin and the 3x3 Tall Blacks gave a good account of themselves playing in its first ever FIBA 3x3 World Cup. Seeded 17th of the 20 teams in the 2026 edition in Poland, New Zealand opened the tournament with a brace of losses before bouncing back with wins against China and Japan to book a place in the last 12.
The Tall Blacks came close to booking a quarter-final berth but fell just short losing 21-19 to eventual champions Latvia in the play-in game.
Emphasis now shifts to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland at the end of next month.
Australia:
In Men’s NBL1 North Sean Murphy produced a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds as North Gold Coast Seagulls fell 86-74 to Ipswich Force.
In Women’s NBL1 West Olivia Berry (Perth Redbacks) added 4 steals to 14 points in a big 128-79 win against South West Slammers.
In the South Conference Tayla Dalton (Waverley Falcons) posted 9 points, 3 assists and 5 steals as the Falcons recorded a 71-62 home win against Diamond Valley Eagles.
Sal’s New Zealand National Basketball League:
Kruz Perrott Hunt equalled his NBL career high in scoring 27 points as Nelson Giants won on the road in Napier. Kruz followed that with a double-double in a loss in Tauranga while James Moors also posted a double-double in defeat.
Rob Loe and Zach Riley produced big performances as Auckland Tuatara secured a pair of wins to remain top of the NBL standings ahead of a top of the table clash with defending champions Wellington Saints at Eventfinda Stadium on Sunday.
Top Harbour performers in Round 9:
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (Nelson Giants) 27 points in 94-85 win v Hawkes Bay Hawks.
James Moors (Taranaki Airs) 20 points & 11 rebounds in 90-69 loss v Auckland Tuatara.
Zach Riley (Auckland Tuatara) 19 points in 100-97 win v Canterbury Rams.
Rob Loe (Auckland Tuatara) 14 points, 6 rebounds & 5asts in 100-97 win v Canterbury Rams.
Rob Loe (Auckland Tuatara) 13 points, 7 rebounds & 5asts in 90-69 win v Taranaki Airs.
Liam Judd (Nelson Giants) 12 points in 69-58 loss v Tauranga Whai.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (Nelson Giants) 11 points & 11 rebounds in 69-58 loss v Tauranga Whai.
Brayden Inger (Southland Sharks) 11 points in 86-75 win v Franklin Bulls.
Averaging 20.8 points per game Kruz Perrott-Hunt is eighth overall in scoring and up to second amongst all Kiwis in the NBL.
The Tuatara’s Dylan Wilkie (51.2%) remains top of the three-point shooting rankings. Rob Loe (46.2%) is up to fourth while Brayden Inger (45.5%) is up to fifth.
Emphasising his all-round qualities Rob also sits eighth on the rebounding list with 8.5 rebounds per game and tenth on the assists list with 5.0 dimes per outing.
