Tai Wynyard, the most valuable player at the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championships in Debrecen in Hungary last year, will be hoping to help New Zealand triumph once more ©FIBA

New Zealand will be aiming to defend their men’s title at the 2016 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 Under-18 World Championships in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, where action is due to begin tomorrow.

Led by Tai Wynyard, the most valuable player at last year’s edition in Debrecen in Hungary, the Kiwis will start their bid to retain their crown against emerging nation The Philippines and Spain, who they beat in the 2015 semi-finals, on Thursday (June 2). 

The two contests are expected to provide the highlights of Pool D, which also features Hungary and Brazil.

Pool B is set to offer similar excitement as 2015 silver medallists Argentina have been pitted alongside current European champions Turkey, Andorra, China and Georgia.

World number one ranked team The Netherlands headline Pool A, which also contains Uruguay, Belgium, Slovenia and Egypt.

The host nation have been drawn with Qatar, as well as Italy, Romania and Indonesia.

The top two in each group after the completion of the round-robin phase will progress to the quarter-finals.

Arguably the most eagerly anticipated encounter on the opening day of action is that between Hungary and Israel in Pool A of the women’s competition.

Israel will be out for revenge having twice lost against Hungary at last year’s event, including defeat in the bronze medal game.

They face a tough task, however, with Hungary being able to boast Veronika Kányási, the current world number one player in the under-18 category, among their ranks.

Hungary's Veronika Kányási is the current number one player in the world in the under-18 category
Hungary's Veronika Kányási is the current number one player in the world in the under-18 category ©FIBA

Pool A also features two other teams that finished in the top 10 last year - Germany and the Czech Republic - plus South American outfit Venezuela.

The United States and Italy, who have both reached the last eight at every edition of the tournament, are in Pool B along with The Netherlands, Poland and Kazakhstan.

Reigning champions France managed to avoid all of their main rivals as they were placed in Pool C with Andorra, China, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

Turkey, Spain, New Zealand, Egypt and Guatemala will compete in Pool D.

Matches at the event are scheduled to be held in front of the Astana Opera House.

All games at the Championships will be played on the same court with 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams vying for the titles, while three individual competitions, the men’s dunk contest, women’s skills contest and the mixed shoot-out, will also take place.

Pool games will be held from tomorrow until Saturday (June 4), while Sunday (June 5) will be dedicated to the knock-out games.