New Zealand Olympic basketball squad announced

(BEIJING, July 11) -- Athens Olympians Angela Marino and Aneka Kerr of New Zealand will lead a 12-person squad to compete in the Beijing Olympic Women's Basketball tournament, announced the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) on July 8, 2008.

Also on the squad will be former captain Noni Wharemate, center Jessica McCormack and sisters Charmian and Natalie Purcell.

Barry Maister, secretary-general of the NZOC, expressed wishes of success for the national team, nicknamed the "Tall Ferns," in the announcement. "They were a successful team in Athens where they delivered the goods against the odds. We're looking for the same or better this time," he said.

Mike McHugh, coach of the Tall Ferns, revealed that it was tough selection process due to the large number of excellent candidates. "It was one of the most difficult selection decisions I've been through in 15-16 years of international basketball," he said. "There were so many players that had put in strong claims for selection."

"It's the strongest team we could have selected for the Olympics," McHugh added, explaining that although the team is "young and inexperienced" with only two returning players from Athens, "I think it's a better team than we took to Athens in the talent level, we just lack the superstar names like Gina Farmer and Donna Wilkins."

The Tall Ferns will compete in Group B at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Their first clash will be against Mali on August 9. Other competitors in Group B are hosts China, the USA, Spain and the Czech Republic.