Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) are pleased to announce the 3×3 Junior Tall Ferns team for the upcoming FIBA 3×3 U18 Women’s World Cup 2022.
The squad is set to include Mayako Taingahue, Taiana Day, Teghan Ngatai and Teuila Fa’alogo and will be coached by 3×3 Tall Ferns head coach, Justine Reed.
The 3×3 Junior Tall Ferns are one of 40 Under 18 teams (20 men’s and 20 women’s) who will head to Debrecen, Hungary on 23 August for the six day tournament – held in the iconic Kossuth Square. New Zealand has been grouped into Pool A, alongside No.1 seed Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain.
Although the 3×3 Junior Tall Ferns didn’t qualify for the 2021 edition of this event, they finished second in the 3×3 U18 Women’s World Cup held in Mongolia back in 2020. The tournament has historically been dominated by the United States, who have won five gold medals in this tournament – including the past three editions.
3×3 Junior Tall Fern Taiana Day, who is also a development player for the Whai in GJ Gardner Tauihi, says she is extremely excited to be part of the squad heading to Hungary.
“I’m so excited, I missed out on the opportunity to go to India with the Junior Tall ferns next month, so this opportunity was something I really wanted to do,” says Day.
“It’s definitely an honour to represent New Zealand, I think that 3×3 is such an exciting sport to play in and it’s getting more popular all the time.”
Day says that her season with the Whai has helped to prepare for a tougher level of competition, and she is also pleased to have Whai teammate Teghan Ngatai joining her in the squad.
“That’s so cool to have a familiar face going over in Teghan, we both played in Waikato as well and won the Under 19 national title together [along with Mayako Taingahue]. My season with the Whai has really helped me as a player – their pre-season was pretty intense, and training with the older, bigger girls has been a huge experience and given me good exposure.
“Hopefully that helps over in Hungary, and I’m able to help the team get a medal.”
3×3 Junior Tall Ferns
Mayako Taingahue, Waikato Basketball
Taiana Day, Waikato Basketball
Teghan Ngatai, Waikato Basketball
Teuila Fa’alogo, Northland Basketball
Schedule (Women Pool A)
Vs Romania, 24 Aug @ 7.25pm NZT
Vs Germany, 24 Aug @ 10.20pm NZT
Vs Spain, 26 Aug @ 10.10pm NZT
Vs Poland, 27 Aug @ 1.25am NZT
