Basketball: Maori teams descend in force

The National Maori Basketball Tournament is being held this week in Rotorua. Pictured is Rotorua's Alex Norton (right) at last year's tournament. Photo / Stephen Parker

The National Maori Basketball Tournament has doubled in size this year after being staged for the first time last year.

The inaugural tournament was at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last year attracting 46 teams. This year 90 teams are entered and more were turned away because the tournament is full.

Tournament director Sue Pene said it was great to see so many teams competing at the event, which starts on Thursday and runs until Saturday.

She said the tournament would also count as a trial for the national Maori men's team and women's team.

"I think now that the tournament is getting out there more teams are entering, also a lot of the top senior players will be here because it is part of the trials for the national Maori men's and women's teams."

Teams will represent their iwi or waka at the nationals and can compete in the men's, women's, mixed and Special Olympics grades or age-group grades (9-and-under, 11-and-under, under-13, under-15, and under-17).

Te Arawa will be well represented with 15 teams, while Waikato Tainui is bringing over the biggest contingent with 23 teams.

Pene said the Special Olympics division was a new and welcome addition this year.

She said no South Island teams were entered but teams were coming from all over the North Island.

The defending champions in the men's division are Waikato and the defending champions in the women's division are Waitakere.

Pene said Rotorua had won the rights to host the national event for three years.

"The inaugural event was last year so we have it this year and we are suppose to have it for three years and then it goes out for tender."

She said a pohiri would be held at 7.30am on Thursday with games starting at 8.30am on all three days and running until late. An awards' ceremony and cultural night will also be on Saturday night.

All seven courts at the Energy Events Centre will be used this week.