Team ‘Suns’ have been crowned champions of the inaugural Seven Stars Invitational on Saturday night, defeating ‘Tannika & Co.’ in the final 17-11.
The team of Casyn Buchman, Sharne Pupuke-Robati, Jelena Vucinic and Amanda Wayment were undefeated en route to their first place finish, capping off what was an exciting night of basketball at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School in Auckland. All four ladies currently play for the Auckland Dream in the Sal’s NBL Women’s league and all have experience playing college basketball in the United States.
Tannika & Co’s lone loss of the tournament came at the hands of the Suns in the final. They also had tremendous basketball talent on display featuring Tall Fern and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Charlisse Leger-Walker and her sister Krystal Leger-Walker, who both play for Washington State University in the United States. Add to the roster younger sister Tannika, a rising talent who plays age-group representative basketball for Waikato.
The battle for third place might have been the most exciting fixture of the night, with the Waikato Wizards taking down Comets 21-19.
The success of the Seven Stars Invitational moves the New Zealand women’s team one step closer to the Commonwealth games, helping to not only offer valuable 3X3 experience for more Kiwi players, but also helping to lift new Zealand FIBA 3X3 points. It’s hoped other clubs, associations and private operators will look at hosting 3X3 events to do that same.
Any association or private provider can set up a 3X3 event using FIBA’s game software, Eventmaker. Anyone with a Play.Fiba3x3.com profile can also set up a login to Eventmaker, create events, schedules and post results. By running their event through that system, the women’s New Zealand team gathers 3X3 points. Learning how to use this platform is easy. Free training is available by emailing 3×3@nz.basketball.
The Seven Stars Invitational results, teams and other key information can be found here.
Get familiar with 3X3 the rules here.
