Two Southland Sharks players are in the 3X3 Tall Blacks team that will take on Australia at Invercargill’s ILT Stadium Southland in October. 

Alonzo Burton and Dom Kelman-Poto have been named today by head coach Piet Van Hasselt, along with Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams), Hyrum Harris (Hawke’s Bay Hawks), and Taane Samuel (Wellington Saints).

The Tall Blacks and 3X3 Tall Ferns will take on their Australian counterparts during the club 3X3 Schick Cup, which will feature 20 NBL franchise teams from across New Zealand, 10 men’s and 10 women’s, with two national titles up for grabs. 

The international matches will be held at the end of each afternoon and evening session, from October 14-16, resulting in a dozen games.

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This is first time a series like this has taken place in Australasia. 

Dom Kelman-Poto, part of the Southland Sharks side that won last year's 3X3 Schick Cup, says can't wait to return to ILT Stadium Southland wearing the black jersey.

"It's a huge honour to be selected to represent my country," he says. 

"It'll be a different feeling when we run out through the smoke and fire this year. We know we'll be representing all of the teams when we take on Australia."

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X3 Tall Blacks Head Coach Piet van Hasselt is delighted the series has been greenlit with the Commonwealth Games on the horizon in 2022.

"To have this opportunity to showcase the 3X3 game in our backyard is invaluable. It gives our players a fantastic chance to taste genuine international competition and put their hands up for Commonwealth Games selection.”

Van Hasselt feels the mix of the team is strong to embark on this historic series.

"We have a great blend of size, speed, physicality, and shooting ability. All the guys jumped at the chance to "bleed the black" in 3X3 and have great team-first attitudes.

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"Four were successful in the inaugural Schick Cup last year and I’m looking forward to working with them as we prepare for the series. I know the team is excited to be playing at home and alongside our 3X3 Tall Ferns against Australia."

The 3X3 Tall Ferns team will be named in due course, once the Sky Sport Tall Ferns Asia Cup team has been determined.

The 3X3 Schick Cup, supported by G.J. Gardner Homes and SkyCity, will be broadcast live and exclusively by Sky Sport. 

Tickets for the 3X3 Schick Cup and the New Zealand V Australia 3X3 internationals are on sale now at Ticketek.co.nz