Breakers contract has teenage Te Rangi confident, buzzing
Reuben Te Rangi is playing with belief, belief handed down from the New Zealand Breakers organisation.
It was confirmed last week that the Southland Sharks’ teenage talent has been handed a fulltime contract with the three-time Australian National Basketball League title-winning franchise.
Te Rangi has previously been part of the Auckland-based organisation as a development player where he had a small taste of playing at the next level.
From next season the youngster is set to play a big part in the Breakers’ setup with many more playing minutes likely.
That confidence the Breakers’ decision-makers have shown has Te Rangi believing in himself.
‘‘It gives me a little bit more confi- dence that they believe in me. I’m very happy and can’t wait,’’ he said.
Before Te Rangi links back up with the Breakers in their attempt to make it four titles in a row he has the task of trying to help the Southland Sharks to their first New Zealand National Basketball League title.
He is in his first season with the Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks and acknowledged it was too early to say whether he will be back playing for Southland come next season, taking a measured approach when being put on the spot.
‘‘Whatever opportunities come forward I’ll consider. But it’s a lovely association and I love it down here,’’ Te Rangi said.
The 2012 Junior Tall Blacks captain has showed glimpses of his exciting and high energy talents in the orange singlet of Southland in 2013 but there is a feeling the best is yet to come.
Last year’s NBL Rookie of the Year’s best game in 2013 came in the opening game of the NBL against the Super City Rangers.
That night he top scored with 22 points and was generally slick all over the court.
On Friday night in the all-important 110-81 win over the Manawatu Jets, Te Rangi was also prominent, shooting three of five three-pointers and seven from 13 inside in a 19-point haul.
The win was huge in the context of Southland’s playoff hopes but Te Rangi said the test would be whether they backed up that result in their doubleheader away from home this coming weekend.
‘‘We’ve got to be able to play [on] the road and a good championship team will be able to play on the road and I guess it will show in the next couple of weeks,’’ he said.