India Women Register Sole Victory Against New Zealand as Men's Team Faces Double Defeat in 3x3 Basketball

India’s women's 3x3 basketball team provided the bright spot on the opening day of the India-New Zealand basketball contests, registering a narrow 13-12 victory over the 3x3 Tall Ferns. 

However, the Indian contingent endured a challenging session overall, with the men's team suffering two defeats against the formidable 3x3 Tall Blacks, while the women lost their second encounter.

The opening day's reported results saw India finish with one victory from four matches at Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, as part of the ongoing '100 Years of Unity Through Sport' celebrations marking a century of sporting connections between India and New Zealand.

While the men's results highlighted the challenge of competing against one of the strongest 3x3 programmes in the region, the women's victory offered encouragement and demonstrated India's ability to compete closely against an established international opponent.

The Indian women's team delivered the standout result of the session, edging past New Zealand's 3x3 Tall Ferns 13-12 in their opening encounter.

In a format where every possession and scoring opportunity can significantly influence the outcome, India's ability to restrict the opposition to 12 points proved decisive. The one-point victory was particularly encouraging against a New Zealand side that has established itself among the competitive teams in international women's 3x3 basketball.

The Tall Ferns have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, including a bronze-medal finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. New Zealand also entered the year with an established reputation in Asian-Pacific competition, having secured consecutive silver medals at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in 2023 and 2024.

India's victory therefore represents an encouraging result against a higher-ranked programme.

However, New Zealand responded strongly in the second encounter, defeating India 21-14 to share the honours in the women's contests.

Despite the defeat, India's 14-point contribution indicated that the team remained competitive offensively. The split results offered valuable match experience against an opponent that provides a strong benchmark for the Indian players.

India's women's programme will particularly welcome the opportunity to test itself against international opposition following its difficult campaign at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, where the team exited in the qualifying draw.

Men's team faces tough challenge against Tall Blacks

The Indian men's team had a difficult opening day against the 3x3 Tall Blacks, going down 9-21 and 12-21 in their two encounters. New Zealand's men's programme is among the strongest in the Asia-Pacific region. The Tall Blacks arrived in Tauranga following an impressive 2026 season, having captured their maiden FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup title in Singapore in April.

Their championship-winning campaign saw them complete the tournament unbeaten, underlining the quality and consistency of the squad. India's two defeats reflected the challenge of competing against a team with considerable international experience and an established tactical identity.

The first encounter saw India restricted to nine points as New Zealand reached the 21-point winning target. The second match offered a modest improvement, with India scoring 12 points, although the Tall Blacks once again finished at 21.

The three-point improvement in India's scoring output between the two encounters provides a small positive, but the gap in overall execution remains evident. New Zealand's strength in 3x3 basketball is particularly associated with its ability to generate points from beyond the arc. Unlike conventional basketball, 3x3 awards two points for shots from outside the arc and one point for shots inside it. This makes perimeter shooting a crucial component of the format.

India will need to improve its offensive efficiency and create better opportunities from long range to challenge teams of New Zealand's calibre.

At the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, India had also lost to New Zealand 11-16 in the pool stage, highlighting the challenge the Tall Blacks have consistently presented.

The Tauranga contests form part of the larger '100 Years of Unity Through Sport' initiative, which celebrates the sporting relationship between India and New Zealand through competitions across multiple cities.

For Indian basketball, these fixtures offer an important opportunity to gain exposure against internationally established opponents. The 3x3 format demands quick decision-making, physical endurance, effective communication and the ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities within a limited timeframe. The women's victory is particularly significant in that context. 

Beating a Commonwealth Games bronze-medal-winning programme, even in a closely contested encounter, provides confidence and a useful reference point for the Indian players.

The men's team, meanwhile, will need to take lessons from the opening day's defeats and work towards improving its execution in the remaining contests. The India-New Zealand 3x3 basketball action will continue on Saturday, November 14, with proceedings scheduled at Mercury Baypark Arena.

The Indian teams will look to build on their opening-day experiences, with the wdomen's side aiming to carry forward the confidence from its 13-12 victory and the men seeking a stronger response against the Tall Blacks.

India may have finished the opening session with just one win from four matches, but the women's victory offered a positive takeaway from a challenging day. Against a highly regarded New Zealand programme, the Indian contingent will now look to turn its experience into improved performances as the bilateral sporting celebrations continue.