Kaitaia hub for hoopsters
Pacific Island countries are visiting Kaitaia for the International Polynesian Cup, an international basketball tournament being played at Te Puna Ora, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa.
The five Pacific Island teams have come to New Zealand to compete against each other, in a bid to enter the Pacific Games being hosted in the Solomon Islands in 2023.
The winning teams will qualify to play at the games.
A powhiri was held yesterday at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, where the Samoan, Tahitian, Cook Island, Tongan and American Samoan teams were welcomed.
CIBA, the Cook Islands Basketball Association is hosting the tournament.
Organiser Manuera Riwai says it’s been five years since any Pacific island team had travelled for basketball, largely due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“As you can imagine all the teams are excited and fired up to play.”
Once the powhiri was completed, Burton Shipley from Fiba (Federation International
Basketball Assn.) Oceania officially declared the tournament open.
The opening ceremony included a performance from Te Rangi Aniwaniwa students, then teams were invited to perform items from their culture and islands.
Amanda Jenkins, executive director for Fiba, said the Micronesian Cup and Melanesian Cups have already been played and Fiji and Guam will be representing their countries at the games.
Newly elected FNDC councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said Te
Rangi Aniwaniwa children heard and saw the commonality of reo and culture with their Pacific tuakana.
It is also admirable that the double court gymnasium has been endorsed by Fiba.
She acknowledged all the players who have gone through extreme hardship during the pandemic and urged local whānau to support the various nations staying at the local marae and financially contributing to the local economy while they are here.
Basketball games officially start today at Te Puna Ora, Quarry Road, Kaitaia. The tournament
ends on Saturday.
CUP SCHEDULE: Men:
Today — 2.30pm ASA vs TAH, 7.30pm COK vs SAM; tomorrow — 5pm SAM vs ASA, 7.30pm COK vs TGA; Thursday — 5pm TAH vs TGA, 7.30pm ASA vs COK; Friday — 12noon TGA vs SAM, 2.30pm COK vs TAH; Saturday — 2.30pm ASA vs TGA, 5pm SAM vs TAH.
Women: Today — 12noon TAH vs TGA, 5pm COK vs ASA; tomorrow — 12noon ASA vs TAH, 2.30pm TGA vs SAM; Thursday — 12noon SAM vs COK, 2.30pm ASA vs TGA; Friday — 5pm SAM vs TAH, 7.30pm TGA vs COK; Saturday — 12noon ASA vs SAM, 5.30pm COK vs TAH.