Teams warm up at the Energy Events Centre yesterday. Photo / Andrew Warner
Teams warm up at the Energy Events Centre yesterday. Photo / Andrew Warner
If you have never seen a game of basketball in real life, or you are a fan from way back, you can settle in for two full days of action.
The New Zealand Maori Basketball Tournament, which began yesterday, goes on for two more days with games taking up sevencourts and around 12 hours of match time.
The tournament is being organised by the Rotorua Basketball Association for the second year running, but this year team numbers have doubled.
Development co-ordinator Sue Pene said they had had to turn some teams away as the centre was already overflowing. They had 46 teams take part last year and have 90 registered this time around.
The teams range from under-9 boys and girls through to mixed adults, as well as wheelchair and Special Olympics teams. Teams are travelling from Kaitaia in the Far North to Wellington, as well as from Taranaki and Gisborne.
"We'll have back-to-back games," Mrs Pene said. "People can come along and stay for as long as they like. We don't have any door charges - the families have fundraised to get here and we don't want to add to that.
"It will be great to see the different teams."
She said the tournament was a chance for people to see what basketball was all about and, if interested further, they were welcome to contact her to find out how to get into a team.
The Rotorua association has another tournament next month when they host a secondary schools pre-season Tip Off.
Anyone interested in finding out more about basketball in Rotorua can call Sue on (021) 222 5515.
Details
What: New Zealand Maori Basketball Tournament. WHERE: Energy Events Centre. When: Today and tomorrow, today 8.30am to 9pm, tomorrow 9am to 6.30pm. How much: Free.
