New Zealand basketball coach Anthony Corban believes the three-on-three format used in the Youth Olympic Games has huge potential for the sport. That is despite an off-shooting day for the young New Zealand team who lost 29-17 to Iran in their bottom eight elimination round at the Scape Youth Space in Singapore today. They now face Central African Republic tomorrow in the elimination for 12th to 16th placings. Corban said that the first trial for the new format will need some tweaking by FIBA, basketballs world ruling body, and if they do make those changes, the concept has a real future. It has so much potential. We are the guinea pigs for it this week but it is exciting, fast and allows players to show their skills, Corban said. In much the way that sevens is to rugby, it required speed and fitness for the frantic, non-stop pace. Ive talked to a lot of coaches and players. I think FIBA need to adjust the shooting clock and extend it out from 10 seconds to may be 12 or ideally 14 seconds. Right now after you take the ball out, you are left with only five or six seconds to get a shot away. That leaves no time to set up any real plays. It has been more about individual one-on-one stuff but if the time was extended then you could develop some really good offensive plays. And I think we probably need a fifth player on the roster because the game is so fast. That aside, it has such a fantastic future. And if kids cant get access to a full court, especially in the summer, then this game can be a viable and exciting one for them. The teams were evenly match on the stats today but the kiwis, who put up more shots than Iran, could only managed 28 per cent success from the floor. We had a lot of good looks today especially to our big man Michael Karena but we did not execute today. It is such a fine line under these rules but we are going back to the village and we will be practicing our shooting this afternoon. Iran is an extremely fit team and out-hustled us and they shot the ball really well today for probably the first time at the tournament. New Zealand table tennis players Julia Wu and Kevin Wu began their campaigns today, both recording first round losses at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Julia Wu lost to Japans Ayuka Tanioka 3-0 (7-11 3-11 4-11) while Kevin lost to Ojo Onaolapo (Nigeria) 3-1 (5-11 11-7 8-11 3-11). The pair are both 15 years old and both from Auckland but unrelated. They have a further two rounds later today. It has been another frustrating day for the sailors with racing again delayed by lack of wind off the Singapore Marina in the Byte CII class, with three rounds schedule for today. Earlier Wellington sprinter Yarride Rosario finished sixth in the B final of the 100m while team-mate Josh Hawkins competes in the B final of the 100m hurdles this evening.
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