Injured Boucher off to China

　　Injured forward Dillon Boucher will travel with the New Zealand team to China even though he may not suit up during the Boris Stankovic Cup tournament.

　　Boucher fell awkwardly during the Tall Blacks' 99-73 first test win over Venezuela in Napier last week, rupturing ankle ligaments and ruling him out of the remaining two games of the series.

　　Intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation over the past five days has seen him discard his crutches and there seems little doubt he will be ready to confront Australian at the Oceania Championships next month.

　　"The medical report says the ligaments are damaged," New Zealand coach Nenad Vucinic said.

　　"He could be back in two weeks, but he could be earlier.

　　"Knowing Dillon and his toughness, he will play if he can. We are not in a position to leave him home from China and have him rejoin us in Latvia, so we'll take him and hope for the best."

　　After the tournament in China, the Tall Blacks have a three-test series against Latvia and Croatia in Europe.

　　AdvertisementThere is a chance Boucher's international career may travel full circle in China.

　　Unable to make the national team as a player, he went to the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane as a video analyst, was called into the squad when NBA performer Sean Marks withdrew and has been there ever since.

　　Manawatu Jets coach Darron Larsen, who has operated the camera over the past three weeks, will not travel to China or Europe, so Boucher's technical experience may come in handy.

　　After Tuesday night's 91-81 third test loss to Venezuela in Wellington, Vucinic trimmed one player from his squad for the trip to China, Harbour forward Daryl Cartwright.

　　With veteran point guards Mark Dickel (back) and Paul Henare (knee) carrying injuries, Nelson guard Mike Fitchett got the nod ahead of Cartwright but was also likely to return home when Dickel joins the team in Latvia.

　　"We need three point guards on the team," Vucinic said.

　　"If you only have two and one gets injured, it greatly affects everyone else.

　　"It is a specialist position."

　　Captain Pero Cameron and veteran centre Tony Rampton are also under injury clouds.

　　Cameron tweaked a calf early in the second half of Tuesday night's game, while Rampton received an elbow to the head in the opening quarter and played no further part in the action.

　　The team were to leave Auckland last night, a day earlier than planned, to allow them an extra day's recovery in China.

　　They open the tournament against Angola in Guangzhou on Saturday, keen to avenge their 95-73 loss to the African champions at last year's world championship.

　　Their other opponents will be hosts China, Slovenia and a National Basketball Association development league All-Stars team.

　　NZ SQUAD

　　Guards: Mark Dickel (Bamberg, Germany), Mike Fitchett (Nelson Giants), Paul Henare (Hawkes Bay Hawks), Phill Jones (NZ Breakers), Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers), Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars), Paora Winitana (Hawkes Bay Hawks)

　　Forwards: Dillon Boucher (Auckland Stars), Craig Bradshaw (Brisbane Bullets), Pero Cameron (Waikato Pistons), Casey Frank (Auckland Stars), Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants), Centre: Tony Rampton (West Sydney Razorbacks)