The team New Zealand is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the team Kazakhstan at 6:30 P.M. on August 8, 2017 in Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon.

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The Tall Blacks and the Snow Leopards will kickoff this year’s FIBA Asia Cup and for the first time a team from FIBA Oceania make a crossover and will compete against the best of Asia.

New Zealand sent a line-up without their ace players but instead a batch of youngsters. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams and the Webster brothers won’t be in the Tall Black’s roster but that doesn’t mean they’re just merely a mediocre team.

Because of their FIBA Oceania success for several years, New Zealand is among the favorites to win the trophy.

Shea Ili will be the main man in the new look New Zealand squad who was one of the Tall Black’s tormentors for Gilas Pilipinas during the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifier Tournament.

Team Kazakhstan on the other hand will be spearheaded by their rising star Nikolay Bazhkin. The last time he played against the Mac Belo led Gilas Pilipinas, Bazkhin dropped 17 points and 18 rebounds.