Chester Jets captain Pero Cameron is representing New Zealand at the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis in August and September. We've followed his preparations and progress in a series of looks at basketball's biggest event.

Part I: Rested and ready
Part Ii: America's Dream coveted by world
 

Mark Woods

With qualification for the quarter-finals of the World Championships now hanging on a victory against China, Chester Jets captain Pero Cameron has won praise from United States head coach George Karl despite his New Zealand side suffering a 110-62 thrashing by the favourites on Tuesday night.

"He's just an old-time basketball player who knows how to play," enthused Karl afer Cameron racked up 13 points in another fine performance for the BBL's most under-rated player.

Cameron - ever the competitor - is not one for mere words though. 

"It’s my first time in a World Championships and I want to see results," he said. "Expectations I don’t know about but mine are fairly big. 

"I have dreams and goals but I don’t like to talk about them. I like to leave them out on court and have them rise or fall there."

The experience of playing in Indianapolis though has lived up to expectations.

"Basketball is so huge in the US," Cameron adds. "It’s where the game was founded and the buildings where we play are incredible."

Odds are though that the Kiwis will go into the round to decide the 9-12th places. Such a finish is no disgrace for a team of which little was expected.

And there is always the haka available to unsettle an unsuspecting opponent. Or maybe not.

Cameron disagrees. "We have one ready so who knows? But our business isn't the haka, it's winning games."

Meanwhile Thames Valley's Greg Meldrum did not play as Canada secured an unlucky 13th place with a narrow 98-97 win over Venezuela in the consolation play-off.

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