Tough buildup didn't help Tall Blacks, says Winitana

[Marko]

By most people's standards, it's a mild rebuke. By Paora Winitana's, it's a stinging attack on the way Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) scheduled the Tall Blacks' programme ahead of the disastrous Oceania Olympic qualifying series against Australia.

Sure, the Boomers were simply too good for New Zealand in the first two matches of the series. But the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks co-captain says the team's chances were not helped by the 14 matches they played in the previous 25 days, in New Zealand, China, Latvia and Croatia.

"I know it sounds like an excuse and that we did have 48 hours in Sydney to recover before the first game, but it was pretty tough," Winitana told SportToday.



"Even the Aussie guys were saying to us 'what are you guys going here, arriving only 48 hours before the start of the series after 40 hours of travel to get here? What was your organisation thinking?' I mean, I don't know. I just hope that the team is given a better chance to prepare in the future."

Winitana (pictured right) was also disappointed that the Tall Blacks were told during the European leg of the tour that there may not be the money to send them to a repecharge tournament in Europe next year, should they not automatically qualify against Australia.

"To be told that was unfair. It wasn't necessary and it put even more pressure on us," he said.

"Plus all that talk about them just giving (coach) Nenad (Vucinic) a one-year contract made the situation worse. Right now, it just means that everyone's future is up in the air.

"I keep hearing that all the players are retiring, but that's everyone else talking about it - not us. I'm sure that a few of the players have got it in their mind, but it's definitely not the kind of decision you make in the heat of the moment.

"You've got to get away from the emotion and settle down, before you make a decision like that."

Having missed out on court time against Australia, Winitana has had to assess his own options. But with Vucinic's contract having expired, he said it was difficult to know where he stood with the Tall Blacks.

"I played quite a lot in Europe and even started a couple of games. Then I picked up this groin injury in Croatia and had to sit out a couple of games and practices.

"When I wasn't called upon in Australia, I didn't really know what to think. It was hard and you can sulk all you want, but it doesn't help the team. I just had to keep being ready to play and grab my opportunity if it came. "I feel really sorry for Nenad, because he would've been looking to pick up a contract, but that's going to be pretty tough after our results. He's a great guy and he's really helped me a lot over the past five years. But, like I said, everything is up in the air."

Winitana is on more certain ground with the New Zealand Breakers, who assembled in Auckland today ahead of their ANBL campaign.

"I'm really excited about the way things are shaping up. The team looks good and I'm looking forward to winning games. That's what it all comes down to - winning."