FYR of Macedonia eased past New Zealand 84-62 in the second Group D game of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas.
New Zealand now have to beat Angola by more than 22 points in their final game to stand any chance of qualification while FYR of Macedonia wait on the point spread for the last game. Right now FYR of Macedonia top the group on +18 while Angola are second on +4.
Bo McCalebb led the FYR Macedonians with 23 points and he added 11 assists in a vintage display. Olympiacos’ Pero Antic finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
For New Zealand, who are without Kirk Penney, Alex Pledger’s 11 points and rebounds wasn’t enough to get a win.
The first quarter set the tone for the game with FYR of Macedonia starting strong as they opened with a 9-0 burst and they doubled their lead in the ninth minute 26-8.
Second and third quarter, New Zealand had plus two and one point better score.
The Tall Blacks hit just one triple at the beginning of last quarter but Stojanovski answered and with two threes as an 8-0 run gave the FYR Macedonians their highest lead at the end of last quarter 80-55 and from then on in it was plain sailing.
