National talent shoot for glory

Potential future Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns are lighting up the ASB Arena courts as part of the 2014 U23 National Championships this week.

From Wednesday to Saturday 13 men's and seven women's teams are battling it out for the national title.


Tauranga City Basketball player Cairyn Rogers, 16, charges past a Rotorua opponent.

The women's final is at 4pm Saturday followed by the men's final at 5.45pm.

The age group tournaments are also an important step of the Basketball New Zealand pathway for both coaches and players.

Tauranga City Basketball general manager Mark Rogers says it is exciting for the association to host the tournament of up-and-coming basketball talent.

'This is the pinnacle event for these age group teams in the country.”

'It's great for us to have this level of competition in town. You have got some Tall Fern trialists; you've got some guys that have had Tall Black trials so it's pretty exciting in terms of the standard of play.”

Also competing is the Junior Tall Blacks, who are not eligible to win the event but are competing in pool play, before the 2014 Under-19 FIBA Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji in November.

Tauranga's sole side competing is a youthful women's team, but Rogers believes this will pay dividends in the future.

'Our women's team is very young so it's about giving them exposure and experience. It's a great opportunity for them to see where they are at.”

Each team plays a minimum of five games in what is are 'tough” and 'pretty physical” games.

National selectors are also keeping a close eye on the athletes throughout the competition.

SunLive photographer Tracy Hardy went along to capture Tauranga City v Rotorua in the women's division and Te Tai Tokerau v Rotorua in the men's division.







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