The New Zealand U17 Men’s and Women’s teams are both locked in for the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in a week’s time.
This is the first tournament of the U17 age group cycle for New Zealand within FIBA’s Oceania zone, which encompasses a three year period that culminates in the U19 Men’s and Women’s World Cups in 2025.
Junior Tall Ferns
If the NZ U17 Women’s team can finish in the top two of the FIBA U17 Oceania Champs, they’ll earn a ticket to the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championships in 2024. In turn, a top four finish at the Asian Champs ensures them a place at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in 2025 – something New Zealand has never qualified for in the past.
The Junior Tall Ferns tip off on Tuesday 3 October when they face Samoa, following by clashes with Australia and Papua New Guinea over the following two days. If they can finish top of their group they will advance directly to the final round; finishing second or third in the group ensures a spot in the semi-final round, with the winner of that game facing the top-ranked team.
Junior Tall Blacks
Similarly to the women’s competition, if the U17 Men’s team can finish in the top two of the FIBA U17 Men’s Oceania Champs, they’ll be awarded a place in the FIBA U18 Asian Championships in 2024. In turn, a top four finish at the Asian Champs ensures that the Junior Tall Blacks can compete in the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2025, which New Zealand has only qualified for once in the past (2019 in Greece).
The Junior Tall Blacks tip off on Tuesday 3 October when they face Papua New Guinea, following by games with Australia, Samoa and Guam over the following three days. The two teams that finish top of the group after four games, will proceed to the final game to determine the winner.
The FIBA U17 Oceania Championship in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 2-7 October 2023 with both the Junior Tall Ferns and Junior Tall Blacks in action. All games will be shown live on www.youtube.com/fiba
U17 Oceania Champs, NZ U17 Women’s Draw
Tue 3 Oct – NZL vs Samoa, 3.15pm NZT
Wed 4 Oct – NZL vs Australia, 7.45pm NZT
Thu 5 Oct – NZL vs Papua New Guinea, 7.45pm NZT
U17 Oceania Champs, NZ U17 Men’s Draw
Tue 3 Oct – NZL vs Papua New Guinea, 7.45pm NZT
Wed 4 Oct – NZL vs Australia, 10pm NZT
Thu 5 Oct – NZL vs Samoa, 5.30pm NZT
Fri 6 Oct – NZL vs Guam, 4.30pm NZT
U17 Oceania Champs – NZ U17 Women’s Squad
- Kaelani Albert-Neha, Waikato Basketball
- Arna Bright, Taranaki Basketball
- Elise Carline, Basketball Otago
- Elise Gilbert, Waikato basketball
- Katie Harrington, Outside of NZ
- Waiheke Kohunui, Rotorua Basketball
- Olivia Lassey, Tauranga City Basketball
- Tannika Leger-Walker, Waikato Basketball
- Kavanah Lene, Canterbury Basketball
- Rebecca Moors, Harbour Basketball
- Amy Pateman, Harbour Basketball
- Tia Pavihi, Wellington Basketball
U17 Oceania Champs – NZ U17 Men’s Squad
- William Blight, Nelson Basketball
- Nicholas Book, Canterbury Basketball
- Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay
- Julius Halaifonua, NBA Academy/ Harbour Basketball
- Mahnaya Heke, Waikato Basketball Association
- Carter Hopoi, Tauranga City Basketball
- Ryan Hunt, Waitakere
- Tamatoa Isaac, Canterbury Basketball
- Xanda Marsters, Rotorua Basketball Association
- Kahuranaki Treacher, Team Takeover National
- Manaia-Ariki Wharepapa, Canterbury Basketball
- Joshua Wyllie, Harbour Basketball
