Dunedin plays host to the Men’s TUPU League finals this weekend, with 12 teams descending on the Edgar Centre for 3 days of tournament action.
The TUPU League is an initiative from Basketball New Zealand to give players just below or on the fringe of Sal’s National League the chance to represent their Association after they have finished Secondary School and/or University and potentially bridge the gap between U20 Nationals and the Sal’s NBL (men) and G.J. Gardner. Tauihi Leagues (women).
While not seen as the top men’s or women’s competitions in New Zealand (Sal’s NBL and G.J. Gardner. Tauihi fill those roles in the basketball landscape), there is great pride in representing Associations, with some wonderful basketball guaranteed at the Edgar Centre from Thursday this week.
Basketball New Zealand CEO Dillon Boucher will head to Dunedin for the event and is looking forward to watching the action.
“We are in our first year of delivering Tupu League with an eye to providing a competition for those male and female players who might sit just below our Sal’s NBL and G.J. Gardner. Tauihi Leagues.
“The regional qualifiers and this weekend’s national finals are a chance for those players to enjoy quality time together in a competitive environment. For some that might be the highest level of the game they aspire to, for others it might be a doorway into our top leagues, either way we look forward to a celebration of basketball and three days of great action.”
The tournament will also provide a boost to the local economy, with teams and travelling supporters injecting a spend into the Dunedin area through accommodation, hospitality and transport.
Associations have come through regional qualifying events to earn their places in Dunedin this week and will play all games at the Edgar Centre in four pools of three teams, with pool winners progressing straight to the quarterfinals and 2nd and 3rd placed teams having to win a crossover game to earn their place in the quarters, while losers will move to the bottom four classification games.
Semi-finals and the grand final will be played on Saturday at the Edgar Centre, with the final set to tip off at 7:30pm.
Men’s Tupu League Finals, 2024
Pool A: Momentum Agency Otago Toroa, Kapiti/Wellington, Manawatu
Pool B: J.D. Hickman Taranaki Bombers, Franklin Blitz, OS2 Performance Nelson Suns
Pool C: Harbour Heat, Tauranga City Mariners, Southland
Pool D: Porirua, North Canterbury, North Otago
Venue & Host
- TUPU League Men’s Finals: November 14 – 16 2024
- Host Association: Basketball Otago
- Venue: Edgar Centre, 116 Portsmouth Drive, Dunedin
- Live Streaming and Results
- Selected games on day two and day three will be live streamed, CLICK HERE for details
- The results & results grids will be uploaded at the commencement of the tournament, CLICK HERE for details
