Celebrating culture/sport benefits

PODIUM PLAYERS: Members of the Turanganui-a-Kiwa basketball teams who attended the National Maori Basketball Tournament show their medals. They are, back (from left): Thomas Tindale (coach), Riley Lewis, Amokura Lamont, Te Atahuia Matahiki, Jasmine Sparks, Piper Donaldson, Jayla Waru-Reardon, Taimarie Matahiki and Paige Tamatea (team official). Second-back row: Seth Miller, Braydon Hawkins-Martin, William Collier and Cody Tarei. Second-front row: Reg Namana (coach), CJ Tarei, Jerome Tamatea, Felix Sparks, TK Wirepa-Hei, Jack-John Maurirere and Adrian Sparks (coach). Front: Kayla Namana, Maioha Leach, Krystal Namana, Natalie Tarei and Kiara Namana. Picture supplied

ALL five teams representing Turanganui-a-Kiwa in Rotorua at the annual National Maori Basketball Tournament achieved podium places.

Three teams had gold-medal finishes, one team won silver and the other, bronze.

This tournament celebrates how culture and sport can build and enrich the lives of those taking part.

Players, coaches and referees use Te Reo on the court, and they have a cultural evening where iwi present a waiata and/or a haka representing the people of their region.

Turanganui-a-Kiwa had 45 children aged from eight to 14 at the tournament.

The under-11 girls were the youngest of the region's five teams. They won their division by beating Muriwhenua by five points in an excellent final.

This result was all the more satisfying because Muriwhenua had beaten them in pool play — the only team to do so — by one point.

Coach Reg Namana was thrilled.

“These girls have shown me a ‘never quit, can do' attitude,” he said.

“In the final, they were down against a good team who had already beaten them. But they fought hard and worked together to win gold.”

The u13 and u15 girls' teams both won gold, going through unbeaten.

Coach Thomas Tindale said he was proud of the way the girls had “played their hearts out” for the whole tournament.

“For these teams to play 14 games and come away with no losses and two gold medals is a great achievement,” he said.

“I couldn't be more thankful for the blood, sweat and tears they put in to make it this far.”

The u13 boys' team, playing in the top grade for their age group, did well to finish third, coach Adrian Sparks said.

Injuries to key players made things harder, but the team showed grit and determination.

“They improved as the tournament progressed,” Sparks said.

“Each player's basketball IQ grew from game to game, which was what we needed. We were punching above our weight against bigger and better teams.”

The u15 boys had been together as a team for three years. Their silver-medal performance was their best finish in that time.

They played Auckland team Tamaki ki Te Tonga in the gold-medal match.

Coach Namana said it was a great effort for these boys.

“They now believe in themselves and what they are capable of achieving if they play each game with confidence and effort,” he said.

“Both teams played excellent defensive games, and that was reflected in the 26-21 scoreline.”

Namana thanked parents, coaches and managers for their help, and EIT for their sponsorship.