The Tall Blacks, semi-finalists at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, needed a strong performance from Penney even more with veteran sharp-shooter Phil Jones struggling with outside shot.

But New Zealand as a team made just six of 30 three-pointers for the game.

Penney talked to FIBA after the tough loss.

FIBA: Kirk, how tough was this loss for the team after having won your previous two games to make it to Saitama?
Penney: It's tough. They're a very good team. Very deep. They kept coming and coming and we couldn't get the runs when we needed them. We couldn't make that stop or make that shot. And they handled the fourth quarter quite easily.

FIBA: In the fourth quarter you tried to make the comeback. You missed some much-needed three-pointers and they just got some tough baskets down low, even though they missed the threes that they were trying to put you away with.
Penney: We knew that we needed to hit some shots down the stretch and we didn't hit them. Inside they did a good job, and they moved the ball very well and got some easy looks against us.

FIBA: The team needed you to pick things up even more with Phill Jones struggling. How difficult of a time was it for you out there, having Andres Nocioni on you for stretches of the game?
Penney: We all feel we could have picked it up even more, especially when you lose. But, you know, they're a good team.

FIBA: Do you consider them definitely among the favourites after seeing them first hand?
Penney: Of course, they're Olympic champions and they have a great and deep team, everything you need to win.

FIBA: Where do you see New Zealand now after this loss, following the country's back-to-back wins to reach this knock-out showdown?
Penney: Obviously looking over at the cross-overs, we knew that Argentina was going to be really tough. But we're bowing out of the tournament and we gave our best, but just couldn't hit the shots we needed, when we needed them. Still, it really hurts to go out like this.